Thesis (doctoral)--Universitat van Amsterdam, 1996. / Includes bibliographical references (p. [301]-317) and index.

Thesis (doctoral)--Universitat van Amsterdam, 1996. / Includes bibliographical references (p. [301]-317) and index.

Thesis (doctoral)--Universitat van Amsterdam, 1996. / Includes bibliographical references (p. [301]-317) and index.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Colorado State University, 2003. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves [306]-330).

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Maryland, College Park, 2001. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 299-314).

Current theories of instrument choice in environmental policy suggest that policy makers choose policy instruments based on the distribution of costs and benefits in society. It is postulated that policy makers will select those policy instruments which confer concentrated benefits on interest groups that will return favours. Others suggest that instrument choice is an outcome of interest groups struggles. However, these approaches do not explain the variation of instrument choices across countries. This thesis is a comparative investigation of instrument choice situations, and actual instrument choices. Combining propositions of public choice theory, blame avoidance theory, and policy style analysis it studies the factors that determine the choice between pollution taxes and tradable pollution rights in three countries (Canada, Germany, and the United States). It is found that institutional structures, particularly the distribution of policy making authority among the various jurisdictions of a state, is the single most important variable. Federal states with centralized authority, e.g. the U.S., have a greater choice among policy instruments, unless other factors, such as ideology, exclude instrument options from the choice set. Federal states in which authority is functionally shared between federal and state governments based on historical precedent, such as Germany, are more likely to adopt pollution taxes. The implementation of tradable pollution rights would require substantial legislative changes at all levels of government. Although eswtablished patterns of interjurisdictional cooperation may facilitate such changes, it would still be a major undertaking that may not be justified by the potential macroeconomic gains associated with emission trading. In federal states with authority overlap-ping between federal government and provinces, such as Canada, the adoption of either pollution taxes or tradable pollution rights is extremely difficult. Unilateral actions could, in the case of pollution taxes, damage a province's competitive position vis-a-vis the other provinces, and thus the adoption is unlikely. Emission trading, however, is subject to the constraints of international agreements by the federal government, and consent by all other jurisdictions on the fixing of an emission cap. Provincial governments guard their jurisdictional authority and are more likely to choose policy instruments that resemble pollution taxes but will not disadvantage the provincial economy. Such taxation schemes will likely be means to raise revenue rather than serving to achieve specific environmental quality objectives. A preliminary survey of instrument choices in other countries suggests that this pattern is not restricted to federal states but possibly is indicative and representative of jurisdictional relationships within states in general. Aside from the distribution of policy making authority among jurisdictions, other factors influencing instrument choice are: agenda setting, ideology and political culture, and the structuring of the decision making process. In none of the case studies did the distribution of costs and benefits among stakeholder groups significantly affect policy instrument choice. / Arts, Faculty of / Political Science, Department of / Graduate

Drawing from an extensive literature review and international experiences, it is found that TEC is a dynamic process of environmental governance to manage environmental conflicts and achieve mutually agreed goals. It is also a political process involving complex mechanisms, processes, relationships and institutions in which stakeholders can articulate their interests, exercise their rights and obligations, and mediate their differences. Transforming theory into a pragmatic research holism, this study constructs an analytical framework which stresses the great importance of a few key aspects of TEC. These key aspects include the nature and characteristics of environmental issue of concern, sociopolitical situations where TEC appears, co-operation regime, determinants of cooperation formation and persistence, and elements of environmental governance. In this study, knowledge, interests and power are identified as the three key determinants and the eight elements involved are participation, compatibility, benefit to all participants, communication, transparency, adaptability, certainty, and expertise. / In order to critically examine the involvement of stakeholders, processes, and mechanisms of TEC in GPRD, a case study approach was employed. An in-depth analysis of two milestone cases, i.e., regional air quality management and Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge, illustrates how TEC plays a vital role in managing the environmental challenges resulting from economic growth, building of infrastructure and disparity in the level of regional development. Findings of the case studies reveal that joint efforts of the various jurisdictions have significantly promoted the regional environmental governance over the past two decades. There are mechanisms for knowledge building and conflict resolution. Nevertheless, the effectiveness of TEC needs to be further improved because several key elements are still not in place, including mutually agreed goals, effective negotiation among government bodies at different levels, symmetric distribution of benefits as perceived by the parties involved, and transparency as a result of free flow of information. The findings of this study also show that the absence or inadequacy of these key elements is deeply rooted in the "One Country, Two Systems" framework under which differences between both sides exist in political culture, mindset, environmental regulations and standards, as well as conflicting interests and priorities. These differences coupled with complex administrative hierarchy and pro-economic growth ethos point to a long drawn-out battle for consensus building and regional collaboration. / This study aims to conceptualize transboundary environmental cooperation (TEC) and examine how TEC helps solve environmental problems in the Greater Pearl River Delta region (GPRD) where the unique "One Country, Two Systems" framework is in place. With two different socio-political systems under the Chinese Government, the GPRD region has witnessed rapid economic growth driven mainly by industrialization and urbanization over the past two decades and has experienced a variety of environmental problems. By conducting a critical analysis of environmental governance in the region, the study offers unique insights into the environmental management problems in the Chinese context and hence the research findings are useful for devising alternative ways for more effective management of the environment. / Hui, Wing Chi. / "January 2008." / Advisers: Lam Kin Che; Yongqin Chen. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 70-03, Section: A, page: 0978. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2008. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 220-244). / Electronic reproduction. Hong Kong : Chinese University of Hong Kong, [2012] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Electronic reproduction. [Ann Arbor, MI] : ProQuest Information and Learning, [200-] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Abstracts in English and Chinese. / School code: 1307.

Thesis (Ph.D.) -- McMaster University, 1999. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 239-253). Also available via World Wide Web.

This thesis explores the environmental and public health damages associated with the informal e-waste recycling industry in China and provides an overview of Chinese policies regulating e-waste. Furthermore, the thesis examines how the United States has contributed to these ecological and human health damages by exporting e-waste to China and failing to regulate the US e-waste recycling industry.

Societies have established various forms of governance to protect the natural environment from the adverse effects of human activity. While direct “command and control” regulation has achieved significant improvements in environmental protection, concerns for its efficiency have led governments to seek alternative approaches to achieve environmental policy objectives. Commentators describe a shift from “government” to “governance” as policy makers and regulators seek to harness wider social forces beyond government, while risk-based regulation is pursued to target constrained regulatory resources for maximum effect. However, robust evidence for the effectiveness of different forms of regulation is lacking. This thesis addresses this gap, providing an evidence base for instrument selection and a data-informed critique of regulatory reform practice. Research followed a case study strategy, gathering qualitative data through 58 in-depth semi-structured interviews, analysed using the NVIVO™ Computer Aided Qualitative Data Analysis System (CAQDAS), with senior policy makers at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, England (Defra) and senior executives in businesses and trade associations in 5 UK sectors. (1) A new typology of regulatory instruments has been compiled, validated with sector experts, refined for policy end-users, and published as part of Defra’s guidance on instrument selection. (2) The critical case of instrument selection in practice at Defra has been examined for the first time, revealing factors affecting choice, the use of coregulation to develop evidence and the importance of retaining policy maker skills for new forms of regulation. (3) A multiple-case study of senior business representatives found five strongly preferred voluntary regulation, seven expressed significant doubts about its effectiveness, and 19 expressed no general preference. While voluntary approaches were valued for flexibility and lower burdens, direct regulation offered stability and a level playing field. They sought inter alia coherent, evidence based regulatory frameworks, delivered through positive regulatory relationships. This research progresses the better and smarter regulation debate on the use of alternatives to direct regulation and has already been used to inform policy making in practice.