Understanding Environmental Policy

by Steven Cohen

The first edition of this pragmatic course text emphasized the policy value of a "big picture" approach to the ethical, political, technological, scientific, economic, and management aspects of environmental issues. The text then applied this approach to real-world case examples involving leaks in underground storage tanks, toxic waste cleanup, and the effects of global climate change.

This second edition demonstrates the ongoing effectiveness of the book's framework in generating meaningful action and policy solutions to current environmental issues. The text adds case examples concerning congestion taxes, e-waste, hydrofracking, and recent developments in global climate change, updating references and other materials throughout and incorporating the political and policy changes of the Obama administration's first term and developments in national and global environmental issues.

Genres: Nonfiction, Sustainability, Environment

232 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2006

Reviews

[Kristin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Valuable tools for evaluating environmental problems and policies to address them. Cohen asserts that environmental sustainability and economic growth are not incompatible; instead, he argues, sustainably-conscious development will be necessary for a strong economy going into the future.
My one major criticism is his assertion that environmentalism is a bipartisan political issue, that "no politico can afford to be seen as anti environmental." This edition was written in 2015; the 2016 presidential election shows that Cohen misread the politics of the U.S. at the time. Four years of rollbacks on environmental regulations followed.

[Audrey · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book made me feel more informed, and therefore much less frightened and overwhelmed, about the global environmental crisis and courses of action states can take and have taken to ameliorate it.

[Jordan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent overview and excellent attitude. I want to take classes from Cohen.

[Sara]

yeah this is another required book for another class. what can i say?

[Joe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well written and received. Excellent look at our impacts on the environment.