The Public Policy on the Environment - Essay Example

Policy Analysis and Political Strategy Introduction This paper looks at the public policy on the environment. It is divided into two parts: part one is the policy analysis which tackles problems with the policy and provides a critical analysis of the existing environment policy. Also, in this part the principal pollutants are identified. The first part will use the eightfold path, which is most effective problem solving strategy. Part two will look at providing strategies for implementing solutions to the environment problems. Also, the paper will propose alternatives to the existing policy and develop criteria to be used in solving the problems. In part two, the paper will look at potential supporters and opposition of the proposed strategy. Also, it considers the potential resources to be used in implementing the strategies. Part One This part provides analysis to the environment policies using the eightfold path. The eightfold path is a six step problem solving strategy namely; problem definition, assembling evidence, alternatives, criteria, outcomes and trade offs (Vladimir, 65). Problem definition involves identifying the main problem. In this scenario the main problem is how the individuals’ harm to the environment leads to its overall degradation. The problem definition has three subdivisions which include; market failure, externalities, use of deficit and surplus. Market failures are caused by technical properties of a good or a service which are crucial in identifying the cause of the problem. Market failure is marked by hardships in collecting the payment from all beneficiaries of the policy like in the case of a policy on reduced emissions. The second market failure feature is the difficulty in collecting payment from all potential beneficiaries of a good, for example, when the consumers of fresh air are also those who pollute it. The third market failure is the hardship to identify the real qualities of a good, for example, it is hard to know the carbon content emitted by a certain company (Tickner, 101) In addition, to the market failure there are other failures, which help, in defining the problem, these include; government policies, discrimination and low living standards. These failures lead to environmental degradation, for example, low living standards may lead to destruction of forests as individuals look for a source of income from the trees as fuel or as building materials as well as their use of the trees as cheaper fuel options. The government’s failure leads to environmental degradation failing to impose strict laws to protect the environment as well as penalties in the case of environmental degradation. It occurs when the government fails to pass and implement workable policies to protect the environment. Assembling evidence is the second step in the eightfold strategy. It involves gathering all the required information to help in solving problems and formulating policy strategies. In the environment scenario, the information on all major pollutants is required. The major pollutant to the environment is the Ozone. This is a gas found near the ground (troposphere) it is formed when nitrogen oxide and other organic matters mix in the air, nitrogen oxide originates from burning gasoline, fossil fuels and coal. The Ozone near the ground causes a lot of harm in terms of health as it causes disease such as asthma attacks, flu, sore throats or even sudden death. The second major pollutant is the Carbon monoxide; this comes from burning of fossil fuels and can not be seen or smelled it is exhumed by vehicles. It reduces the oxygen in the body; also, it causes dizziness and tiredness and when inhaled in high concentrations is fatal and can cause death. The third pollutant is Nitrogen dioxide; this is reddish-brown gas that results from vehicle emissions and burning of fossil fuels. It results mostly from cars and plants and is also formed when nitrogen reacts with oxygen at extremely high temperatures. It causes coughs to those exposed to it while its accumulation in the atmosphere results into acid rain which is harmful to plants and animals. Another main pollutant is the particulate matter; this is the solid or liquid matter that is suspended in the atmosphere. Its divided into coarse, and the fine particulate matter, coarse matter originates from road dusts, spray from oceans, and also, from construction. The particulate matter is very harmful especially when it enters the lungs. Sulphur dioxide is another major pollutant. This is a gas which cannot be seen or smelled at low levels but when it is at high levels it has a rotten egg smell. It originates from burning of coal and other oils in power plants also, from factories that manufacture chemicals. The gas is extremely harmful when it accumulates in the atmosphere because it causes acid rain; also, it increases asthma attacks and irritates people’s eyes, noses. Another form of pollutant is Lead; this is a metal which is very toxic. It originates from cars in areas where unleaded fuel is used. High amounts of Lead cause heart attacks, stroke also kidney problems. Another pollutant is the toxic air pollutant; this is a mixture of chemicals found in the air. It originates from emissions from chemical plants. High concentration of this pollutant leads to cancer and birth defects (Spengler & Sexton, 10-13). Another major pollutant is the stratospheric ozone depleters; these are the gases that destroy the ozone, and they originate from air conditioners, refrigerators, aerosol cans and fire extinguishers. They are particularly harmful to the ozone that protects people from ultra violet radiations this will lead to skin cancer and eye problems. Lastly, greenhouses gases, these are gases that stay in the air for so long and warm up the earth by trapping sunlight. They originate from industries, processing of fossil fuels and naturally. They lead to the greenhouse effect which leads to climates changes that are harmful (Spengler & Sexton, 17). The third step in eightfold strategy is constructing of alternatives; it entails the use of alternatives as a solution to the problem. Therefore, in the pollution scenario the alternatives can be; formation of pollution regulatory agency, this agency will be charged with the responsibility of identifying potential and the existing polluters and assuring that the levels of pollution reduces (Tickner, 73). Also, the agency will set limits which if a company pollutes beyond the limits there are penalties to be faced. The second alternative is the use of taxes, introduction of pollution taxes or pigouvian taxes to ensure that those who exceed the set standards are penalized by paying the taxes. The third alternative is the development and production of bio-fuel; this will reduce the use of coal, fossil fuels and other fuels that emit harmful gases (Cherson, 2004). The fourth step is the identification of the criteria to be used in evaluating the alternatives and solutions. The first criterion is efficiency; these evaluate the alternatives using cost effect and the benefit analysis. Here, the benefits to the community are compared to those of the companies that are contributing to pollution. For example, in formation of regulatory agency, the companies will tend to reduce their pollution to avoid penalties (Buchanan, Marisa & Horwitz, 103). The second criteria is equity; it deals with who bears the actual responsibility by polluting, this where the pigouvian tax comes in to ensure that those who pollute pay for the pollution. The third criterion is political feasibility; this entails that good policies should be adopted regardless of their political nature (Kamieniecki & Kraft, 207). The next step in the eightfold strategy is the outcomes. This measures outcomes of alternatives and seeing how each alternatives measure against the criterion. The first outcome is value; here, we look at the amount at which pollution has reduced because of use of the alternatives; also, we can look at number of life saved. The second is the break-even; this is where the alternatives provide benefits to the polluters that they prefer to break even their levels of pollution (Vig & Kraft, 54). The last step in the eightfold model is the tradeoffs. This is where the alternatives are trade for each other. Here, the best alternative is recommended, but it is hard to say which alternative is the best (Berstein, 127). Part Two This part of the paper looks at the development of implementation strategy. The solutions will be presented to the ministry of the environment which will be the major decision maker. It will be important to show the ministry officials the effect of pollutants to the atmosphere and people. Also, it will be important to demonstrate the way the alternatives can be solutions to the problem of pollution and how they will lead to reduced pollution. Also, presenting other benefits of the alternatives other than reduced pollution, such benefits are cost effectiveness and equitable distribution of responsibilities, where those who bear the responsibility pay for it. In every policy proposal, there is supporters and opposition. In this scenario, all the environmental oriented agencies and nongovernmental organization and ministry of environment will be the main supporters of the policy. The opponents of the policy could be the industries and the oil companies who will suffer when it is implemented. In the resource mobilization, both supporters and opposition have wealthy sources, but the supporters would be capable of mobilizing more for the sake of the solution. In conclusion, with the use of the eightfold model the problem is identified which is environmental pollution. Research on sources and effects of the problem is carried out. Also, in the eightfold model the alternatives, which are the, proposed solutions are identified and their benefits explained. Also, the criteria for evaluating the alternatives are identified, and their effects are analyzed. Also, the outcome of the policy alternatives are evaluated bring forward their benefits. Also, there is part of the outcomes where the best alternative is adopted, but in this scenario, it is hard to identify which is the best. In the second part of the paper, the strategy for implementation is proposed, where the main decision maker, supporters and opposition are identified. Also, sources of funds for the implementation are identified, where the supporters will be able to mobilize more resources than the opposition. Therefore, with the alternatives being the solution to the pollution problem they should be implemented to save people and Mother Nature from destruction. Works Cited Berstein, Mark. Public Benefit of Energy Efficiency for Massachusetts. NY: Rand Corporation, 2002. Buchanan, Marisa & Horwitz, Carl. Pollution and Society. Michigan: University of Michigan. Cherson, Adam. Political Ecologies: Essay in Environmental Science and Policy. Ireland: Greencore Books, 2010. Kamieniecki, Sheldon & Kraft, Micheal. Business and Environmental policy: Corporate interest in the America political system. Cambridge: MIT press, 2007. Levy, Jonathan. Major air pollutants. London: Pearson education, 2007 Spengler, John & Sexton, Ken. “Air Pollution: A Public Health Perspective."Science, 221(1983) 4605: 9-17. Tickner, Joel. Precaution, Environmental Science and Public Policy. Island Lake: Island Press, 2002. Vig, Norman & Kraft, Michael. Environmental policy: New Direction for Twenty First Century. New York: Q- Press, 2007. Read More