Environmental Public Policy
Review the video Ask Me Why I Care: J. Fred Silva, Senior Policy Advisor, California Forward available at the link below.
Public Service Stories – Ask Me Why I Care. (2015, October 14). Ask me why I care: J. Fred Silva, senior policy advisor, California Forward [Video]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oEs1fdU0Afo&t=37
https://online.columbiasouthern.edu/bbcswebdav/xid-119088615_1
Emphasizing the old days when community and civic leaders communicated on a regular basis, Fred Silva, Senior Policy Advisor, supporting California local government, also provides advice for students interested in public policy development. Based on the unit lesson and Mr. Silva’s advice on solving public policy challenges, select a local or national policy issue, then outline and specifically delineate each policy process variable(s).
Your paper should include:
an introductory paragraph identifying the public policy topic and background;
Six comprehensive paragraphs – each paragraph heading will be listed as:
Problem Definition and Analysis: In this paragraph, answer the questions of who, what, why, where, when, and how much.
Drafting Policy Options: In this paragraph, identify policy options.
Policy Decision Implications: In this paragraph, identify which stakeholders and what will be changed.
Measuring Alternatives: In this paragraph, identify realistic and practical options.
Ethical Implications: In this paragraph, identify what groups’ values or cultures may be affected.
Desirable Conclusions: In this paragraph, describe the policy selected and why it was selected; and
a summary. Conclude your remarks by illustrating why public policy option was selected, why it was the best option or not the best, and identify what lessons you learned from your research.
Your assignment must be at least two pages in length, not including the title and reference pages. Be sure your paper is double-spaced and uses one-inch margins. Use your own words, and include citations and references as needed to avoid plagiarism. All sources used must be referenced; paraphrased and quoted material must have accompanying citations and be cited per APA guidelines.
Introduction
Over time, environmental protection policy has increasingly become a relevant measure for corporations, local and national governments. This is because human beings have now known the harmful impact of their various industrial and agricultural activities that started in the early 20th century. It is now necessary for multiple stakeholders to have a proper plan that ensures the protection and management of the limited available natural resources while aligned with their ultimate objectives.
Problem Definition and Analysis
Extensive research on the environment has illustrated that its state is at a dangerous level. The reasons for the impending calamity include a burgeoning population trying to exploit the available natural resources for their economic progress (Katju, n.d.). Increasing demand for energy, water, and land coupled with lack of proper plans on waste management and dealing with various greenhouse emissions are all playing a significant function in environmental degradation. The extensive degradation generates a substantial burden on lower-class communities and individuals from minority communities since most of the resources are exploited at their disadvantage. The communities live in areas with a disproportionate number of landfills, contaminated resources, incinerators and other polluting factors that affect tier health and living conditions (Katju, n.d.). Therefore, environmental protection has become an integral element for any development process, entailing an understanding of the particular issue and changing both attitudes and lifestyles.
Drafting Policy Options
First, environmental regulations, which are primarily reforms guided by international benchmarks which impose both responsibilities and limitations on individuals, companies and other entities on matters of protecting the current environmental resources and improving the degraded environments (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, 2007). The second policy is to develop environmental institutions that entail the introduction of codes of conduct to employees, leadership and other stakeholders in their domain on environmental protection matters. Additionally, the institutions are to improve transparency and optimize their resources. Structural changes are bound to be included for both efficiency and effectiveness in their operations. The third policy is an intensive investment into compliance promotion efforts (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, 2007). This entails implementing educational and training programs for all individuals to help them understand how they could positively impact the environment.
Policy Decision Implications
These policies will require extensive use of financial resources, which could bring in fear of reduced revenues for companies and businesses. Extensive structural changes within institutions in alignment with the policies could attract resistance from leadership and one’s staff. There is a need to have proper leadership and strategic reforms that attract resistance, especially if the affected individuals do not comprehend the importance of the issues to their operations and the community.
Measuring alternatives
The criteria utilized in assessing the available policies are equity criteria, which is primarily a public question on the social allocation of benefits and burdens (PPA 670 POLICY ANALYSIS, 2020). An environmental protection policy is a measure that benefits each individual in society, including those responsible for implementing. Horizontal equity is concerned with both burdens and benefits being shifted among societal groups that are relatively equal. Therefore, for environmental protection, its responsibilities and benefits are shared across institutions that are relatively equal when it comes to paying attention to the environment’s issue. Each of them has a relatively proportional role to play to ensure their operations are protecting the environment.
Ethical Implications
One important ethical consideration of the policies is how much environmental degradation induced by human activities should be tolerated by society (Brown, 2001). The question of what is the ultimate level of utilization of natural resources by human beings still lingers. This will help understand the duties of individuals and entities to other forms of life, future generations and the disadvantaged communities in terms of low-level income and ethnicity.
Desirable Conclusions
The environmental regulation policy outlining both responsibilities and limitations on different entities seeks to ensure that the natural resources are utilized appropriately without depletion or further damage. This policy was selected because it puts everyone at a level where they understand what is required of them and implement them. Failure to do so will attract hefty penalties that could revoke their rights to continue doing business.
Summary
From this research, it is evident that everyone plays a significant role if the environment is to be protected. The formulation and implementation of environmental protection regulations will help in ensuring each entity is doing its part. Regulatory authorities are to follow up bodies through these regulations to ensure that everyone is complying.
References
Brown, D. A. (2001). The ethical dimensions of global environmental issues. Daedalus, 130(4), 59-76.
Katju, V. (n.d.). Environmental protection: Challenges and responses. Retrieved from https://www.devalt.org/newsletter/jun01/lead.htm
Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development. (2007). Policies for a better environment: progress in Eastern Europe, Caucasus and Central Asia. Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development.
PPA 670 POLICY ANALYSIS. (2020). Policy analysis criteria. Retrieved from https://web.csulb.edu/~msaintg/ppa670/p&sch5.htm
