Environmental Principles and Policies

Environmental Principles and Policies uses environmental and social principles to analyse the latest wave of economic-based and market-orientated environmental policies currently being adopted around the world. This book provides an in-depth examination of six key principles that have been incorporated into international treaties and the national laws of many countries: * ecological sustainability * the polluter pays principle * the precautionary principle * equity * human rights * public participation These principles are then used to evaluate a range of policies including pollution charges, emissions, trading, water markets, biodiversity banks and tradable fishing rights. Environmental Principles and Policies is easily accessible, using non-technical language throughout, and - in what sets it apart from other books on environmental policy-making - it takes a critical and interdisciplinary approach. It does not set out policies in a descriptive or prescriptive way, but analyses and evaluates policy options from a variety of perspectives. This enables readers to gain a thorough grasp of important principles and current policies, as well as demonstrating how principles can be used to critically assess environmental policies.

Sharon Beder, a professional engineer who researches and teaches environmental politics, is professor in the School of Social Sciences, Media and Communication at the University of Wollongong, Australia. She is an award-winning author of several successful books including Suiting Themselves (April 2006), Global Spin, Power Play and Selling the Work Ethic.

Introduction * Part I: Environmental Protection Principles * The Sustainability Principle * The Polluter Pays Principle * The Precautionary Principle * Part II: Social Principles and Environmental Protection * The Equity Principle * Human Rights Principle * The Participation Principle * Part III: Economic Methods of Environmental Valuation * Measuring Environmental Value * Is Monetary Valuation Principled? * Part IV: Economic Instruments for Pollution Control * Prices and Pollution Rights * The Sustainability Principle and Economic Instruments * The Polluter Pays and Precautionary Principles Applied * Rights, Equity and Participation Principles Applied * Part V: Markets for Conservation * Quotas, Trades, Offsets and Banks * The Sustainability Principle and Conservation Markets * The Equity, Participation and Precautionary Principles Applied * Conclusion *