Informed Policy

Which of the following is a difficulty associated with environmental protection?
a.
cost
b.
unpredictability
c.
sustainability
d.
all of the above

d. all of the above

The level of environmental protection enacted typically depends on _______.
a.
the perceived benefit of the action
b.
the support of the community
c.
pressure from foreign governments
d.
all of the above

a. the perceived benefit of the action

Science has had no negative impacts on society.

FALSE

Eli Whitney’s invention of the cotton gin is an example of scientific advancements negatively affecting society.

FALSE

Waste management is an environmental issue that has been addressed by environmental policy.

TRUE

Which of the following is a negative consequence of scientific advancements on society?
a.
increased life expectancy
b.
increased pollution
c.
new energy resources
d.
all of the above

b. increased pollution

How can using a combination of policy tools be more efficient than using one exclusively?
a.
Using a combination of policy tools assures compliance.
b.
Using a combination of policy tools allows for a wider range of coverage.
c.
Using a combination of policy tools prevents the use of mandatory policies.
d.
All of the above

NOT D

The United Nations Environment Program regulates the environmental policy for all countries.

FALSE

Why is it important to cooperate with other countries on environmental issues?
a.
Environmental issues are not always localized.
b.
Other countries have no environmental issues.
c.
Other countries have more environmental issues.
d.
None of the above

a. Environmental issues are not always localized.

Environmental policy addresses all of the following issues except _______.
a.
air pollution
b.
water pollution
c.
natural disasters
d.
overfishing

c. natural disasters

How can using a combination of environmental policy tools be beneficial?

Using a variety of environmental policy tools is beneficial because it allows for greater flexibility in dealing with a variety of issues and organizations. Some programs are more effective if they have economic incentives attached to them. Other programs cannot be economically motivated, so they must rely on other tactics.

Economic incentives are used in environmental policy to _______.
a.
encourage compliance
b.
allow for flexibility
c.
reduce government involvement
d.
all of the above

a. encourage compliance

Which of the following is a negative consequence of the application of scientific knowledge?
a.
industrial pollution
b.
increased life expectancy
c.
technological developments
d.
new energy sources

a. industrial pollution

Explain how considerations for human health help drive environmental policy decisions.

Humans impact the environment, which can, in turn, have an effect on human health. Pollution is caused by human activity, and it also affects human health. Air pollution can cause respiratory problems and water pollution can lead to digestive problems. As human health is affected by these issues, concern increases and policies are enacted that address the causes of the issues. These policies do benefit the environment, but are, in part, brought about by concerns over human health.

Explain how advances in scientific knowledge have influenced society.

Advances in scientific knowledge have led to changes in society. As scientific understanding increases, changes in technology occur. These changes have led to increased life expectancy, cures for diseases, use of new energy sources, changes in warfare, increased pollution, and a larger gap between developed and developing countries. Some advances in scientific knowledge have led to negative consequences, such as an increase in pollution, but further advances in scientific knowledge can help remedy those situations.

Organizations and agencies are a result of _______ in environmental protection issues.
a.
contingency plans
b.
hunting regulations
c.
government involvement
d.
all of the above

c. government involvement

Which of the following environmental protection issues is a direct result of human involvement?
a.
pollution
b.
invasive species
c.
biodiversity loss
d.
all of the above

d. all of the above

Scientific knowledge has, in some cases, led to _______.
a.
decreased life expectancy
b.
a decrease in the gap between developed and developing countries
c.
a better quality of life
d.
all of the above

c. a better quality of life

Explain the importance of an environmental contingency plan.

Environmental contingency plans are important because it is not possible to accurately predict possible environmental changes brought about by environmental policies and practices. Changes that occur can be disastrous, so having a contingency plan that can be effected to quickly deal with the changes in an attempt to mitigate the damage can be crucial.

Explain why it is important to monitor environmental parameters when making policies involving resource use.

Human activity has an impact on the environment. In order to minimize the impact of human activity it is important to understand factors that affect the environment. It is also important to know how different human activities affect those environmental factors. This knowledge can be obtained by monitoring specific environmental parameters. For resource use, specifically, it is important to monitor changes in the environment to decide the level and frequency of resource use in certain areas.