Environmental impact statements (EIS) have been required in the U.S. since the National Environmental Policy Act was signed into law on January 1, 1970. Although no legal requirement exists in Canada, in December of 1973 the federal government announced a policy of preparing an EIS for all "major" projects having "significant" effect on the environment . The evolution of the EIS requirement in the U.S. indicates the major purpose of impact statements is to produce information concerning the full important consequences of a proposal to relevant government agencies, the interested public and to decision-makers so that each person can reach a rational decision about the social worth of the intended project. The ultimate objective of impact reports and a concomitant public and government agency review process is to facilitate more socially rational decisions about proposed projects. The methodology in this study involved developing a set of criteria based upon the literature to determine whether an EIS has adequately provided the kind of information in a manner necessary to fulfill its intended purpose. Five impact statements were critically reviewed and discussed in light of several methods proposed for assessing environmental impact. The more important shortcomings identified in the environmental reports were thereby isolated and analyzed. The following general shortcomings were identified in five impact statements critically reviewed: 1) There was some difficulty in comprehensively identifying all important socio-cultural and ecological impacts. 2) Not enough information was always provided so that the reader could value the importance of an identified impact. 3) In some cases an adequate discussion of the curtailment of future beneficial uses of the environment was not completed. 4) An analysis of alternatives was not completed adequately in all impact reports. 5) All impact reports had characteristics which would hinder the communication of information to readers. These shortcomings were generally discussed in reference to different environmental assessment methods. Three basic conclusions resulted: 1) A comprehensive checklist of impacts should be part of any impact evaluation method used by an agency in order to ensure that all important consequences of proposals are identified. Networks are the most comprehensive type of checklist because they link causal actions to primary, secondary and multiple-order impacts. 2) Evaluation methods which mold economic, socio-cultural and ecological impacts into common units for comparison should not be utilized as a basis for preparing an EIS. These methods judge the importance of each impact for the reader, which is contrary to the main purpose of impact reports. 3) Most evaluation methods identified in this study do not provide guidance in preparing the environmental impact report itself. These evaluation methods would not resolve at least three shortcomings of the impact statements critically reviewed. Therefore, the recommendations of this study consist of EIS preparation guidelines that enable persons preparing the environmental impact report to avoid the shortcomings which were identified in the thesis. These guidelines relate to the following six points: 1) The purpose and scope of an EIS. 2) Integrating impact reports into the planning process. 3) Recommendations concerning the development of impact checklists. 4) An evaluation approach which defines impacts in separate quantitative and certain key qualitative terms. 5) Several general considerations and a method of summarizing an EIS in order to facilitate impact communication. 6) A flexible and general EIS format which lists most of the important requirements of an impact report. / Applied Science, Faculty of / Community and Regional Planning (SCARP), School of / Graduate

Thesis (Ph. D. in Political Science)--Vanderbilt University, May 2010. / Title from title screen. Includes bibliographical references.

We present three models of the role of asymmetric information in environmental protection. Chapter one considers the market for a green credence good - a good whose environmental characteristics are not observed by the consumer, even ex post - in the presence of environmentally-conscious consumers. Producers may choose to advertise their products. However, if communication is not regulated it can degenerate into "cheap talk". We explore the scope for credible transmission of environmental information by green producers, and the limits on it. In Chapter two we develop some similar themes in an experimental setting, with the focus again on consumer reactions to producer-provided information on the environmental attributes of goods, and the potential role of government to improve social welfare by manipulating the use of certification. In Chapter three the focus is somewhat different, whilst maintaining the theme of the role of information asymmetries in an environmental policy setting. In the model here a regulator has to decide whether or not to regulate a polluting activity with imperfect information regarding the net benefits of so doing. In making her decision, the regulator can listen to an adviser, who may or may not be biased. We look at how the decision maker can exploit the advisories incentive to build reputation to achieve better decisions. As a whole the thesis further underscores and illustrates the critical role that availability and distribution of information plays in policy making aimed at environmental protection.

Dissertation (doctoral)--Lüneburg Universität, 2009.

Climate change as an impeding catastrophe has prompted heated debates on the sharing of mitigation responsibilities among nation states. How do climate protection norms come about to influence climate policy-making, especially in major greenhouse gases emitters—the European Union and China? This thesis sets out to examine from the economic, strategic and normative perspectives what considerations are underpinning climate policy-making in the world, the EU, and China. A constructivist approach was taken, with a stress on bottom-up normative influence and mutual constitution of the international and local contexts. Building on primary sources from the speech, policy directives and reports by both state and non-state actors and others, analysis was carried out with the assistance of scholarly literature from the field of political economy, international relations and global environmental politic. Energy policy is elucidated to show how climate policy is mainstreamed and how reconciliation is possible among competing considerations. Findings of this thesis indicate that economic competitiveness is the primary consideration factor. While strategic interests often go parallel with economic ones, normative considerations sometimes contradict economic competitiveness in the short-term. It is also found that openness of political system and international status and identity seem to govern the extent of normative influence on climate policy-making. Despite rhetorical commitment, China‘s growth imperative and strong belief in the “common but differentiated responsibilities” present great obstacles to adoption of climate protection norms. In Europe, recession gives rise to a two-fold challenge—to deliver promises of green growth and to prevent erosion of public support for climate actions. Finally, as the thesis strongly recognizes the agency of non-state actors and citizens, it draws a number of implications on how they can influence climate policy-making in Europe and China. / published_or_final_version / Modern Languages and Cultures / Master / Master of Philosophy

The atmosphere transcends boundaries. So does the politics of the global atmosphere. This study focuses on Japan, discourse, and knowledge in the politics of the global atmosphere, including ozone layer depletion and climate change. In this study, I show how Japan's policy changed as its knowledge on the global atmosphere progressed from severely limited and distorted, to comprehensive and advanced. The change, I contend, had little to do with availability of or access to knowledge, and instead, was dependent upon the context with which existing scientific knowledge was interpreted. The major determinant of the environmental policy context in Japan, I argue, is the dominant discourse. Discourses, in other words, have a crucial impact on how scientific knowledge is interpreted, which, in turn, has a crucial impact on the policy choices that are made at both the international and domestic levels. This is not to say that an analysis of discourse explains everything. It does not. But, along with an analysis of transnational knowledge, power, and interests, it is a necessary part of the explanation of Japan's policy toward the global atmosphere. To achieve the objectives of my research, this dissertation uses a two-level (international/domestic) case study of the politics of ozone layer depletion and climate change in Japan. First, I found that what I call a "marriage of convenience" between science and policy was a critical aspect of the process of knowledge and policy construction. Second, my analysis shows that Japan's policy toward global atmospheric issues was manifestly impacted by the discursive power of global environmentalism and the precautionary principle. In this regard, I argue that, in challenging Japan's hitherto dominant kogai discourse and dominant policy making discourse based on "pollution-response," the discourses of global environmentalism and the precautionary principle resulted in a reorganization of institutional arrangements within Japan. Third, my analysis traces the transnationalization of domestic actors in Japan, and shows how these actors-NGOs, industry and industry organizations, and scientists-in linking up with counterparts across borders (I) enhanced their knowledge, (2) reinforced their interests and power, and (3) materially influenced the policy making process. / Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Hawaii at Manoa, 2002. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 360-396). / Mode of access: World Wide Web. / Also available by subscription via World Wide Web / xiv, 396 leaves, bound 29 cm

Thesis (Ph.D.)--Tufts University, 2003. / Chair: Frank Ackerman. Submitted to the Interdisciplinary Doctorate Program. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 191-205). Access restricted to members of the Tufts University community. Also available via the World Wide Web;

Thesis (doctoral)--Göteborgs universitet, 1988. / Summary in English. Added t.p. with thesis statement and English summary inserted. Includes bibliographical references (p. 248-251).

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Washington, 2002. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 391-423).

Thesis (M. Sc.)--University of Hong Kong, 1998. / Includes bibliographical references (leaf 128-141).