Reflect on environmental issues you learned about in this course so far. What have been the most important decisive experiences or convincing arguments in shaping your own attitudes?
Given that, respond to this scenario: you are in charge of your own city. List three strategies to make you city more environmentally sustainable. Explain each strategy.
The Learning Journal entry should be a minimum of 400 words and not more than 750 words. Use APA citations and references if you use ideas from the readings or other sources.
INTRODUCTION
The overview below will help you review the material covered in this unit.
Environmental Economics and Policies
- Environmental and natural resource economists study the tradeoffs associated with one of the most important scarce resources we have—nature. Economic activity generally affects the environment, usually negatively.
- Natural resources are used, and large amounts of waste are produced. These side effects can be seen as ways in which the actions of a producer impact the well being of a bystander. The market fails to allocate adequate resources to address such external costs because it is only concerned with buyers and sellers, not with the well-being of the environment. Only direct costs are considered relevant. External costs are harmful social or environmental effects caused by the production or consumption of economic goods.
- A cost-benefit analysis provides an estimate of the most economically efficient level of pollution reduction that is practical.
- Environmental laws today encompass a wide range of subjects such as air and water quality, hazardous wastes and biodiversity. The purpose of these environmental laws is to prevent, minimize, remedy and punish actions that threaten or damage the environment and those that live in it. Conventions, or treaties, generally set forth international environmental regulations. These conventions and treaties often result from efforts by international organizations such as the United Nations (UN) or the World Bank.
- It is often difficult, if not impossible, to enforce these regulations because of the sovereign rights of countries. In addition, rules and regulations set forth in such agreements may be no more than non-binding recommendations, and often countries are exempted from regulations due to economic or cultural reasons. Despite these shortcomings, the international community has achieved some success via its environmental agreements. These include an international convention that placed a moratorium on whaling (1986) and a treaty that banned the ocean dumping of wastes (1991).
Sustainability and Urban Infrastructure
- Urbanization is the study of the social, political, and economic relationships in cities.
- There are three prerequisites for the development of a city. First, good environment with fresh water and a favorable climate; second, advanced technology, which will produce a food surplus to support non-farmers; and third, strong social organization to ensure social stability and a stable economy.
- Urbanization levels are affected by two things – migration and natural increase.
- Global urbanization reached the 50 percent mark in 2008, meaning that more than half of the global population was living in cities compared to only 30 percent 50 years ago.
- The access to basic services— clean water, sanitation, electricity, and roads—are some of the main urbanization challenges facing the developing world.
- Long commute times, observed in sprawling metropolitan areas are unsustainable from many aspects. Various negative health and environmental consequences can be identified related to these development trends.
- Green urbanism is a conceptual model that seeks to transform and re-engineer existing city districts and regenerate the post-industrial city centre. It promotes the development of socially and environmentally sustainable city districts. The principles of green urbanism offer practical steps on the path to sustainable cities, harmonizing growth and usage of resources.
READING ASSIGNMENT
Doršner, K. (2020). Essentials of environmental science (2nd edition). Download the pdf.
Read chapters 16 and 17 in the textbook and answer the 'End of Chapter Review Questions' in each chapter.
Video Resources
Oxford Academic (Oxford University Press). (2015, December 27). Environmental economics: A very short introduction [Video]. YouTube.
Conservation Strategy Fund. (2014, May 15). Intro to cost-benefit analysis [Video]. YouTube.