Environmental Policy Analysis

Catalog description

Effective environmental policy requires the application of a policy tool that incorporates the social and ecological particularities of a specific problem. For example, a reliance on permits that specify exact limits on waste generation may work on point-source pollution problems, but may be less effective on non-point source pollution problems. This seminar will review several key approaches to environmental policy, including the use of mandates, tax incentives, tradeable permits, and community-based management. We will explore these approaches within local, national, and international environmental policy regimes, paying particular attention to how the characteristics of the environmental or resource problem influence the effectiveness of alternative policies. Prerequisite: Introductory policy course, such as ENVI 230 or ENVI/PHIL 149 or ENVI/GEOG 239. Offered every fall.