ENVS203: Environmental Ethics, Justice, and World Views

5.4: Impacts from Environmental Law

• 5.4.1: Case Study 1: When Environmental Law Works

  • European Environment Agency: "Has Policy Improved Europe's Air Quality?" URL

    Read this article, which provides a summary of the benefits of the introduction of emission standards for road vehicles in the European Union. Follow the hyperlinks in the article to read about the background of the various initiatives that have reduced air pollution in member states. How do you believe better air quality will improve the health of EU citizens?
    

  • The Encyclopedia of Life: "Point Source Pollution and Nonpoint Source Water Pollution" Page

    Read these two articles, which will give you some background on types of sources of pollution. This week while driving or walking around your neighborhood, look for possible sources of pollution? Are they Point or Nonpoint source pollution examples?
    

  • Wikipedia: "Hinkley Groundwater Contamination" URL

    Read this article, which provides a summary of the issues surrounding the Hinkley Groundwater Contamination made very famous in the movie with Julia Roberts “Erin Brockovich”. If you have not seen this movie before you may want to watch to see environmental justice and law in action. This was one of the largest environmental class action suits in history.
    

• 5.4.2: Case Study 2: When Environmental Law Fails

  • Foreign Policy in Focus: Kristin S. Schafer's "One More Failed U.S. Environmental Policy" Page

    Keep in mind that this article represents the views of one person, which you may choose to disagree with. Once you have finished the article, analyze the ethics of what you have read. Do you believe it is acceptable to have separate rules and regulations for different countries?