"The goal of environmental policy is to protect the environment for future generations while interfering as little as possible with the efficiency of commerce or the liberty of the people and to limit inequity in who is burdened with environmental costs."
The measures taken to protect the environment while promoting economic growth.
Environmental economics: This is the study of how economic policies and decisions affect the environment and the economy.
Environmental policy: Environmental policy is the set of guidelines, laws, and regulations that are designed to protect and manage the environment.
Sustainable development: Sustainable development is the concept of meeting current needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs.
Pollution: Pollution refers to the introduction of harmful materials into the environment, which can have adverse effects on the environment and human health.
Natural resources: Natural resources are the materials and non-materials provided by nature that can be used for economic gain. These may include water, air, minerals, forests, and wildlife.
Climate change: Climate change is the long-term alteration in Earth’s climate patterns due to human activity, which is causing a number of environmental problems.
Environmental justice: Environmental justice is the ethical concept that all people, regardless of their race, socioeconomic status, or location, should have access to a healthy environment.
Sustainable energy: Sustainable energy refers to energy sources that are renewable and do not deplete natural resources. Examples include wind, solar, and hydroelectric power.
Carbon emissions: Carbon emissions are a byproduct of burning fossil fuels and other human activities, which contribute to climate change.
Conservation: Conservation involves the protection and management of natural resources to ensure their long-term sustainability.
Ecological footprint: The ecological footprint is the impact of human activities on the environment, measured in terms of the amount of land, water, and energy used.
Biodiversity: Biodiversity refers to the variety of plant and animal life in a particular ecosystem, which is essential for maintaining the balance of the ecosystem.
Green technology: Green technology refers to the development and use of technology that is environmentally friendly and reduces energy consumption.
Environmental impact assessment: Environmental impact assessment is the process of evaluating the potential environmental impact of a proposed project or policy change.
Environmental education: Environmental education is the process of educating people about the importance of sustainable living and environmental protection.
Renewable energy policies: Renewable energy policy refers to government policies and incentives designed to promote the development and use of renewable energy sources.
Corporate social responsibility: Corporate social responsibility refers to the responsibility that corporations have to behave ethically and to contribute to sustainable development.
Natural disasters: Natural disasters refer to events such as hurricanes, earthquakes, and wildfires that can have a devastating effect on the environment and human health.
Environmental ethics: Environmental ethics is the branch of ethics that is concerned with the moral implications of human actions on the environment.
Environmental governance: Environmental governance refers to the system of laws, policies, and organizations that govern environmental management and protection.
Market-based policies: These policies use economic incentives such as taxes or subsidies to encourage businesses and individuals to reduce their environmental impact.
Command-and-control policies: These policies prescribe specific standards, regulations, and procedures to control pollution or environmental degradation.
Green procurement policies: These policies require government agencies and other organizations to buy environmentally friendly products or services.
Environmental impact assessment policies: These policies require companies to assess and mitigate the potential environmental impacts of their activities before starting them.
Environmental certification policies: These policies set standards for environmentally friendly products or services and certify that they meet those standards.
Information disclosure policies: These policies require companies to disclose information about their environmental impact to the public.
Renewable energy policies: These policies promote the production and use of renewable energy sources like solar, wind, and hydro power.
Energy efficiency policies: These policies encourage the adoption of more energy-efficient technologies and practices.
Waste reduction policies: These policies promote reducing, reusing, and recycling waste to minimize environmental impact.
Conservation policies: These policies aim to protect natural resources and wildlife by restricting or regulating their use and development.
"As his first official act bringing in the 1970s, President Richard Nixon signed the U.S. National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) into law on New Years Day, 1970."
"NEPA established a comprehensive US national environmental policy and created the requirement to prepare an environmental impact statement for 'major federal actions significantly affecting the quality of the environment.'"
"Author and consultant Charles H. Eccleston has called NEPA the world's 'environmental Magna Carta.'"
"Also, in the same year, America began celebrating Earth Day, which has been called 'the big bang of U.S. environmental politics, launching the country on a sweeping social learning curve about ecological management never before experienced or attempted in any other nation.'"
"Several broad environmental laws were passed, regulating air and water pollution and forming the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)."
"Partially due to the high costs associated with these regulations, there has been a backlash from business and politically conservative interests, limiting increases to environmental regulatory budgets and slowing efforts to protect the environment."
"Since the 1970s, despite frequent legislative gridlock, there have been significant achievements in environmental regulation, including increases in air and water quality and, to a lesser degree, control of hazardous waste."
"Due to increasing scientific consensus on global warming and political pressure from environmental groups, modifications to the United States energy policy and limits on greenhouse gas have been suggested."
"As established under NEPA, the US was the first nation in the world to introduce the concept of preparing an environmental impact statement (EIS) to evaluate the alternatives and impacts of proposed federal actions."
"The EIS process is designed to forge federal policies, programs, projects, and plans."
"A large percentage of nations around the world have adopted provisions that emulate the American EIS process."