http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-lawater18-2009apr18,0,2991632.story
In this article the LA City Council approved a measure to increase the water bill for anyone who goes above a specific alotted usage per month. Since LA county is currently in a drought they are looking for ways to save water and conserve over time. For those that meet or use less than the alloted amount of water they will see a 15% reduction on their bill. However, those who use more water than allocated will see a 44% increase.
This plan will help LA County to increase funds for the city as well as continue to develop ways to conserve water and increase their sustainability especially in times of a drought. Not everyone has the same limit of water use. The new system will be based on lot size and temperature zone. The council feels that this is a sufficient answer to their dought problems and their budget shortfall as well. Citizens will be informed on their bills how to cut water usage in order to take advantage of rate reduction. The council is working with the Department of Water and Power (DWP) to implement this process smoothly and quickly.
The council also feels that other cities should follow their lead and adopt a similar policy in order to conserve water. This policy is one that has been used over time to reduce pollution by charging companies more that pollute or taxing them more. However, in this situation the citizens have the opportunity to use less water and receieve a benefit from doing so.
Considering that the department of water and power is a large company it does not service all of California. However, if the all of the water companies worked with their local governments in California this could be implemented state wide. Cities could be rewarded for using less water and in turn larger communities could receive more water and increase their sustainability. The extra money could go to help other programs in the state of California become more sustainable and fight other environmental problems. It would be difficult to implement this policy across the state of California with different water companies. But if a system was put in place all cities and water companies could follow, and adapt their program to fit the needs of their community.
This policy will improve environmental quality since it will help decrease water usage and increase funds available for more sustainable planning. For California this is very important since they really could function as their own country. By getting together the local governments and water companies California would be doing a lot of work towards sustainability. But the work would pay off in the long run, and their drought problems could be avoided in the future.
Alicia
So this is my blog...not really sure what I am going to do with it, but I had to create it for two of my classes in my masters program at ASU. Last week I turned in my final paper and I am graduating next week. But I still have this blog. So I guess I will continue to write and see where it takes me. :)
Monday, April 20, 2009
Parks and Recreation
I hope everyone is watching the new show on NBC, "Parks and Recreation" with Amy Poehler. It is hysterical. Especially if you work in local government. The last episode had a public forum about building a new park. One citizen was against the park since the department had not done a Environmental Impact Statement. I had a little chuckle about that one.
Tune in to a great show!
Alicia
Tune in to a great show!
Alicia
Monday, April 13, 2009
Assignment 12: Tools for Sustainability Planning
1. Praise the Lord and Green the Roof New York Timeshttp://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/01/nyregion/thecity/01nuns.html?_r=1&scp=1&sq=praise%20the%20lord%20and%20green%20the%20%20roof&st=cseThe Episcopal sisters of the Community of the Holy Spirit have taken on the mission to serve god and the earth. They have lived a life most of us cannot imagine but they are doing more for the environment then many of us ever will. They have decided to live a green life and run their convent in the same manner. From shopping at local organic farmer's markets, keeping a compost pile, and giving up their minivan for a shared vehicle program the sisters are becoming servants to the earth as well as god. The sisters are moving to a new convent that is currently being built and they are working with BKSK Architects to make their new convent as sustainable as possible. As "Julie Nelson spread out the blueprint for the new convent's chapel, members of the group proceeded to debate the relative merits of stone, bamboo or cork for the chapel floor, as well as different kinds of energy-efficient heating and cooling systems."(Hannon, 2009) Once a far fetched idea the sisters have grown into their roles as an environmentally sustainable organization. They once rolled their eyes at the idea of living green but 10 years later they find themselves accomplishing "their mission of scaling down both their space and their ecological footprint."(Hannon, 2009) Even though they may have a small convent their mission is great and their persistence is admirable.One aspect of their mission that was very interesting was how they approached the task of getting new land for a new convent. Even though they are not a government institution the sisters worked with Columbia University to obtain their new land. This is much like an intergovernmental process in which they went to another agency that could provide them with what they needed in exchange for a growth for Columbia. "Columbia has also taken over the complex task of obtaining the construction permits required for the new convent."(Hannon, 2009) Columbia was able to purchase the old convent which funded the new one. By doing so Columbia was helping the sisters and helping themselves. The cost-benefit analysis of doing so would be very beneficial. The purchase of the building would more than fund a new convent that is ecologically sustainable and the procurement of the old building would assist in development of the university. This notion of two groups working together towards sustainability is what is necessary to get the community on board with their approval. When the community sees what groups are doing to work together to sustain the neighborhood and improve the environmental the citizens will continue to be supportive in the future.The sisters are also looking to reduce their "ecological footprint" in this process. Even though "ecological footprint analysis seems a limited sustainability planning tool, it does have more useful applications in public education."(Wheeler. 95) By measuring an ecological footprint there are too many factors that cannot be measured. But the sisters know that they are leaving a footprint measurement or not so they intend to reduce it. They are also hoping to set an example for the community and not “hit them over the head with its practice, but rather to live an example that trickles down.” (Hannon, 2009) The sisters are hoping to set an example and the leave the Earth better than how they found it. Their new home will help them be successful in their new green mission.
2. World Bank Found Lacking on Environment
http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9802E4DF173BF930A15754C0A96E9C8B63&&scp=1&sq=World%20Bank%20found%20lacking%20on%20environment&st=cse
A report was released recently that examine the World Bank and their focus on the environment. The conclusion was very simple and not very positive. “It found that recent pledges for environmental sustainability by the bank and sister institutions, including the International Finance Corporation, were often not put into practice.”(Revkin, 2008) Even while the World Bank was “warning about forest loss and creating a fund to curb deforestation, the World Banks private sector arm, had promoted the expansion of livestock herds, soybean fields and palm oil plantations, which all tend to propel deforestation in the tropics.”(Revkin, 2008) The sustainability plan that was put into place in 2001 by the World Bank was being pushed aside.
The new “evaluation found a persistent lack of environmental focus in each step along the leading chain, from the priorities that shape development projects to the environmental standards and monitoring required in the field.”(Revkin, 2008) This is a situation in which the World Bank needs to invest some effort into sustainability indicators. “Sustainability indicators that track progress towards sustainable development.”(Wheeler, 91) This effort would give the World Bank a better understanding of their environmental progress as well as their impact on the environment. By using indicators the World Bank can change direction when a certain situation has gotten them off track. “Indicators potentially have great power to demonstrate problems, motivate action, educate the public, and show the positive effect of sustainability policies.”(Wheeler, 92) If the World Bank would like to continue to have a positive impact on the world and help end poverty it would need to also meet the needs of the environment at the same time. Indicators would help guide them in the right direction.
Another approach that might benefit the World Bank and help change their environmental impact is to establish an environmental impact report. By using indicators to help develop a report the World Bank would not only be monitoring their own actions but those actions would be made public. This can be a very strong motivation for a large organization looking for approval and support for their continued existence. By developing an impact report the World Bank can be held accountable for their promises that they are currently not living up to. As a benefit “assessments can both provide information on environmental inputs and help evaluate alternatives to a proposed action.”(Wheeler, 97) If they are causing deforestation because they are trying to grow food to feed the world’s poor an impact report may be able to discover new methods that would reduce the impact on the forests. An environmental impact report would help the World Bank prepare better, provide for people better, and take care of the environment better.
Alicia
2. World Bank Found Lacking on Environment
http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9802E4DF173BF930A15754C0A96E9C8B63&&scp=1&sq=World%20Bank%20found%20lacking%20on%20environment&st=cse
A report was released recently that examine the World Bank and their focus on the environment. The conclusion was very simple and not very positive. “It found that recent pledges for environmental sustainability by the bank and sister institutions, including the International Finance Corporation, were often not put into practice.”(Revkin, 2008) Even while the World Bank was “warning about forest loss and creating a fund to curb deforestation, the World Banks private sector arm, had promoted the expansion of livestock herds, soybean fields and palm oil plantations, which all tend to propel deforestation in the tropics.”(Revkin, 2008) The sustainability plan that was put into place in 2001 by the World Bank was being pushed aside.
The new “evaluation found a persistent lack of environmental focus in each step along the leading chain, from the priorities that shape development projects to the environmental standards and monitoring required in the field.”(Revkin, 2008) This is a situation in which the World Bank needs to invest some effort into sustainability indicators. “Sustainability indicators that track progress towards sustainable development.”(Wheeler, 91) This effort would give the World Bank a better understanding of their environmental progress as well as their impact on the environment. By using indicators the World Bank can change direction when a certain situation has gotten them off track. “Indicators potentially have great power to demonstrate problems, motivate action, educate the public, and show the positive effect of sustainability policies.”(Wheeler, 92) If the World Bank would like to continue to have a positive impact on the world and help end poverty it would need to also meet the needs of the environment at the same time. Indicators would help guide them in the right direction.
Another approach that might benefit the World Bank and help change their environmental impact is to establish an environmental impact report. By using indicators to help develop a report the World Bank would not only be monitoring their own actions but those actions would be made public. This can be a very strong motivation for a large organization looking for approval and support for their continued existence. By developing an impact report the World Bank can be held accountable for their promises that they are currently not living up to. As a benefit “assessments can both provide information on environmental inputs and help evaluate alternatives to a proposed action.”(Wheeler, 97) If they are causing deforestation because they are trying to grow food to feed the world’s poor an impact report may be able to discover new methods that would reduce the impact on the forests. An environmental impact report would help the World Bank prepare better, provide for people better, and take care of the environment better.
Alicia
Monday, April 6, 2009
Sustainability
How do you believe sustainability should be defined for policy-making?
I believe sustainability should be defined for policy making by what a nation is capable of. Policy makers must understand what they capable of creating policy for. In the United States we must create policy that creates sustainability for our future in transportation. This is something that is within our grasp and can be completed. We are able by depending on our human capital to relieve pressure on natural capital by creating alternatives to oil. This is how sustainability should be defined for policy making. What is the particular country capable of. In smaller developing countries weak sustainability may be the most appropriate approach since they do not have human made capital to replace their natural capital. They must deplete their natural capital in order to progress. Even though "most forms of capital are more complimentary or neutral and are less substiutable"(Goodland, 17) some policies will have to circumvent that in order to maintain a basic level of development.
What are the difficulities associated with making sustainability a policy goal?
Thre are many difficulities associated with making sustainability a policy goal and I believe implementation is one of them. Once sustainability has become a policy goal and ultimately policiy it is difficult to implement. For example obtaining environmental sustainability by decreasing our demand on oil. This will lead to an increase on the price of oil in order to reduce use and the creation of alternative modes of transportation. This will be difficult to implement since many are resistant to giving up their vehicles and raising the cost of gasoline would upset many citizens. For as much as those in the public sector have sustainability as their goal sometimes support and implementation for that goal is a dificult pill to swallow.
In designing a framework for the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality I would begin by defining what the goals are and how they could be acheived to create sustainability. How could we use our capital to work together to create sustainability. Our human capital would work to involve the citizens on what they feel is important in Environmental Quality. We would establish ecological standards that work hand in hand with our economic goals in order to maintain our sustainability. For example, the citizens would like to see the trees not cut down in order to keep their community beautiful. However, we need this natural capital in order to provide for our human and social capital by providing wood for houses. A agreement with the citizens can be met to use nautral and human made capital to build houses and limit the tree removal in the local forests. This will help meet all of our capital and the social capital will be included as well.
Experts will of course be brought in to present different ways in which sustainability can be met without substituting one form of capital for another. The experts will seek the input of the citizens in order to understand their social captial and how they see sustainability being successful in their community. Not all needs will be met, but by involving the citizens compromises are approached in order to succeed.
A long term view is very important in environmental sustainability. Part of the reason we are dealing with so many environmental issues today is that no one wanted to look long term. What are the long term effects of carbon emissions? What are the long term effects of non-recycled waste? What are the long term effects of logging? There were warnings but many felt that since the effects were not visible at that moment there was no need to worry. There has to be a shift toward planning long term to achieve sustainability. Voters and politicans have to understand that change often does not occur overnight. There has to be time to left forests regrow, or fish to repopulate in the oceans. In order to achieve sustainability voters and politicans must be made aware that even though the effects are not clear and present today they steps that are being taken today are most certaintly effecting the future.
I believe sustainability should be defined for policy making by what a nation is capable of. Policy makers must understand what they capable of creating policy for. In the United States we must create policy that creates sustainability for our future in transportation. This is something that is within our grasp and can be completed. We are able by depending on our human capital to relieve pressure on natural capital by creating alternatives to oil. This is how sustainability should be defined for policy making. What is the particular country capable of. In smaller developing countries weak sustainability may be the most appropriate approach since they do not have human made capital to replace their natural capital. They must deplete their natural capital in order to progress. Even though "most forms of capital are more complimentary or neutral and are less substiutable"(Goodland, 17) some policies will have to circumvent that in order to maintain a basic level of development.
What are the difficulities associated with making sustainability a policy goal?
Thre are many difficulities associated with making sustainability a policy goal and I believe implementation is one of them. Once sustainability has become a policy goal and ultimately policiy it is difficult to implement. For example obtaining environmental sustainability by decreasing our demand on oil. This will lead to an increase on the price of oil in order to reduce use and the creation of alternative modes of transportation. This will be difficult to implement since many are resistant to giving up their vehicles and raising the cost of gasoline would upset many citizens. For as much as those in the public sector have sustainability as their goal sometimes support and implementation for that goal is a dificult pill to swallow.
In designing a framework for the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality I would begin by defining what the goals are and how they could be acheived to create sustainability. How could we use our capital to work together to create sustainability. Our human capital would work to involve the citizens on what they feel is important in Environmental Quality. We would establish ecological standards that work hand in hand with our economic goals in order to maintain our sustainability. For example, the citizens would like to see the trees not cut down in order to keep their community beautiful. However, we need this natural capital in order to provide for our human and social capital by providing wood for houses. A agreement with the citizens can be met to use nautral and human made capital to build houses and limit the tree removal in the local forests. This will help meet all of our capital and the social capital will be included as well.
Experts will of course be brought in to present different ways in which sustainability can be met without substituting one form of capital for another. The experts will seek the input of the citizens in order to understand their social captial and how they see sustainability being successful in their community. Not all needs will be met, but by involving the citizens compromises are approached in order to succeed.
A long term view is very important in environmental sustainability. Part of the reason we are dealing with so many environmental issues today is that no one wanted to look long term. What are the long term effects of carbon emissions? What are the long term effects of non-recycled waste? What are the long term effects of logging? There were warnings but many felt that since the effects were not visible at that moment there was no need to worry. There has to be a shift toward planning long term to achieve sustainability. Voters and politicans have to understand that change often does not occur overnight. There has to be time to left forests regrow, or fish to repopulate in the oceans. In order to achieve sustainability voters and politicans must be made aware that even though the effects are not clear and present today they steps that are being taken today are most certaintly effecting the future.
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