Making Better Environmental Decisions

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O Wechsel ist denn hier der Orth....

Author : Anonim
Publisher : Unknown
Page : 2 pages
File Size : 51,8 Mb
Release : 1680
Category : Electronic
ISBN : OCLC:633766555

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O Wechsel ist denn hier der Orth.... by Anonim Pdf

Making Better Environmental Decisions

Author : Mary O'Brien,Environmental Research Foundation (Annapolis, Md.)
Publisher : Mit Press
Page : 286 pages
File Size : 44,5 Mb
Release : 2000
Category : Science
ISBN : 0262150514

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Making Better Environmental Decisions by Mary O'Brien,Environmental Research Foundation (Annapolis, Md.) Pdf

For the past quarter-century, government and the private sector have relied heavily on risk assessment for making decisions, allowing widespread environmental deterioration. In this book, Mary O'Brien recommends a simple yet profound shift to another decision-making technique: "alternatives assessment." Instead of asking how much of a hazardous activity is safe (which translates into how much damage the environment can tolerate), alternatives assessment asks how we can avoid or minimize damage while achieving society's goals. Alternatives assessment is a simple, commonsense alternative to risk assessment. It is based on the premise that it is not acceptable to damage human and nonhuman health or the environment if there are reasonable alternatives. The approach calls for taking precautionary measures even if some cause-and-effect relationships have not been fully established scientifically. The process must involve an examination of the full range of alternatives, including no action at all. Equally important, it must be democratic and include potentially affected parties. O'Brien not only makes a persuasive case for alternative assessment; she tells how to implement it. She also shows how this technique has profound implications for public health, for our stewardship of the environment, and for a truly democratic government. Published in association with the Environmental Research Foundation.

Making Better Environmental Decisions

Author : Mary O'Brien,Environmental Research Foundation (Annapolis, Md.)
Publisher : MIT Press
Page : 310 pages
File Size : 47,7 Mb
Release : 2000
Category : Science
ISBN : 0262650533

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Making Better Environmental Decisions by Mary O'Brien,Environmental Research Foundation (Annapolis, Md.) Pdf

This work recommends a simple yet profound shift to another decision-making technique: alternatives assessment. Instead of asking how much of a hazardous activity is safe, alternatives assessment asks how we can avoid or minimize damage.

Public Participation and Better Environmental Decisions

Author : Frans H. J. M. Coenen
Publisher : Springer Science & Business Media
Page : 212 pages
File Size : 43,7 Mb
Release : 2008-12-12
Category : Science
ISBN : 9781402093258

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Public Participation and Better Environmental Decisions by Frans H. J. M. Coenen Pdf

Public Participation and Better Environmental Decisions is about a specific ‘promise’ that participation holds for environmental decision-making. Many of the arguments for public participation in (inter)national environmental policy documents are functional, that is to say they see public participation as a means to an end. Sound solutions to environmental problems require participation beyond experts and political elites. Neglecting information from the public leads to legitimacy questions and potential conflicts. There is a discourse in the literature and in policy practice as to whether decision-making improves in quality as additional relevant information by the public is considered. The promise that public participation holds has to be weighed against the limitations of public participation in terms of costs and interest conflicts. The question that Public Participation and Better Environmental Decisions seeks to answer for academics, planners and civil servants in all environmental relevant policy fields is: What restricts and what enables information to hold the ‘promise’ that public participation lead to better environmental decision-making and better outcomes?

Better Environmental Decisions

Author : Ken Sexton
Publisher : Unknown
Page : 504 pages
File Size : 48,6 Mb
Release : 1999
Category : Business & Economics
ISBN : UOM:39015045647883

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Better Environmental Decisions by Ken Sexton Pdf

Better Environmental Decisions brings together leading scholars and practitioners from business, government, and communities to provide a comprehensive, interdisciplinary introduction to the new landscape of environmental regulation and agreements. Each chapter describes an important aspect of environmental decision making; identifies key issues, problems, and barriers; and recommends ways to improve both the process and the final result. Throughout, contributors focus on providing tools to make better decisions, and on presenting solutions to real-world problems. This useful work will be a landmark reference and text for scholars and students, as well as legislators, regulators, advocates, and community activists.

Structured Decision Making

Author : Robin Gregory,Lee Failing,Michael Harstone,Graham Long,Tim McDaniels,Dan Ohlson
Publisher : John Wiley & Sons
Page : 315 pages
File Size : 45,8 Mb
Release : 2012-03-19
Category : Mathematics
ISBN : 9781444333411

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Structured Decision Making by Robin Gregory,Lee Failing,Michael Harstone,Graham Long,Tim McDaniels,Dan Ohlson Pdf

This book outlines the creative process of making environmental management decisions using the approach called Structured Decision Making. It is a short introductory guide to this popular form of decision making and is aimed at environmental managers and scientists. This is a distinctly pragmatic label given to ways for helping individuals and groups think through tough multidimensional choices characterized by uncertain science, diverse stakeholders, and difficult tradeoffs. This is the everyday reality of environmental management, yet many important decisions currently are made on an ad hoc basis that lacks a solid value-based foundation, ignores key information, and results in selection of an inferior alternative. Making progress – in a way that is rigorous, inclusive, defensible and transparent – requires combining analytical methods drawn from the decision sciences and applied ecology with deliberative insights from cognitive psychology, facilitation and negotiation. The authors review key methods and discuss case-study examples based in their experiences in communities, boardrooms, and stakeholder meetings. The goal of this book is to lay out a compelling guide that will change how you think about making environmental decisions. Visit www.wiley.com/go/gregory/ to access the figures and tables from the book.

Environmental Decision-Making in Context

Author : Chad J. McGuire
Publisher : CRC Press
Page : 221 pages
File Size : 43,5 Mb
Release : 2012-04-25
Category : Business & Economics
ISBN : 9781439885758

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Environmental Decision-Making in Context by Chad J. McGuire Pdf

Because of the complexity involved in understanding the environment, the choices made about environmental issues are often incomplete. In a perfect world, those who make environmental decisions would be armed with a foundation about the broad range of issues at stake when making such decisions. Offering a simple but comprehensive understanding of the critical roles science, economics, and values play in making informed environmental decisions, Environmental Decision-Making in Context: A Toolbox provides that foundation. The author highlights a primary set of intellectual tools from different disciplines and places them into an environmental context through the use of case study examples. The case studies are designed to stimulate the analytical reasoning required to employ environmental decision-making and ultimately, help in establishing a framework for pursuing and solving environmental questions, issues, and problems. They create a framework individuals from various backgrounds can use to both identify and analyze environmental issues in the context of everyday environmental problems. The book strikes a balance between being a tightly bound academic text and a loosely defined set of principles. It takes you beyond the traditional pillars of academic discipline to supply an understanding of the fundamental aspects of what is actually involved in making environmental decisions and building a set of skills for making those decisions.

Tools to Aid Environmental Decision Making

Author : Virginia H. Dale,Mary R. English
Publisher : Springer
Page : 357 pages
File Size : 45,9 Mb
Release : 2012-11-26
Category : Technology & Engineering
ISBN : 9781461214182

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Tools to Aid Environmental Decision Making by Virginia H. Dale,Mary R. English Pdf

This book is unique in identifying and presenting tools to environmental decision-makers to help them improve the quality and clarity of their work. These tools range from software to policy approaches, and from environmental databases to focus groups. Equally of value to environmental managers, and students in environmental risk, policy, economics and law.

Decision Making for the Environment

Author : National Research Council,Division of Behavioral and Social Sciences and Education,Center for Economic, Governance, and International Studies,Committee on the Human Dimensions of Global Change,Panel on Social and Behavioral Science Research Priorities for Environmental Decision Making
Publisher : National Academies Press
Page : 297 pages
File Size : 52,8 Mb
Release : 2005-07-01
Category : Science
ISBN : 9780309095402

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Decision Making for the Environment by National Research Council,Division of Behavioral and Social Sciences and Education,Center for Economic, Governance, and International Studies,Committee on the Human Dimensions of Global Change,Panel on Social and Behavioral Science Research Priorities for Environmental Decision Making Pdf

With the growing number, complexity, and importance of environmental problems come demands to include a full range of intellectual disciplines and scholarly traditions to help define and eventually manage such problems more effectively. Decision Making for the Environment: Social and Behavioral Science Research Priorities is the result of a 2-year effort by 12 social and behavioral scientists, scholars, and practitioners. The report sets research priorities for the social and behavioral sciences as they relate to several different kinds of environmental problems.

Handbook for Environmental Risk Decision Making

Author : C. Richard Cothern
Publisher : CRC Press
Page : 430 pages
File Size : 46,7 Mb
Release : 2019-07-17
Category : Technology & Engineering
ISBN : 1420048732

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Handbook for Environmental Risk Decision Making by C. Richard Cothern Pdf

This handbook describes the broad aspects of risk management involving scientific policy judgment, uncertainty analysis, perception considerations, statistical insights, and strategic thinking. This book presents all the important concepts to enable the reader to "see the big picture." This ability is extremely important - it allows the decision maker or strategic environmental planner to understand and cope with a wide variety of complex and interlinked pieces of information and data. The text presents environmental problems and, whenever applicable, the methodology required to reach a successful solution. Decisions and policies are examined. The book covers numerous objective and subjective components of environmental risk decision making. It details quantitative and comparative risk, and investigates the cost and feasibility of different decisions. Social pressures, safety, and political, religious, ethical, and psychological issues are addressed. How to evaluate the potential impact on the quality of life also is discussed. Any company doing risk assessment, risk management, or risk communication, as well as those doing environmental decision making will find this reference to be invaluable. It is also suitable as a text for courses in environmental management, environmental science, and risk assessment in the areas of risk management and strategic environmental planning.

Valuing Ecosystem Services

Author : National Research Council,Division on Earth and Life Studies,Water Science and Technology Board,Committee on Assessing and Valuing the Services of Aquatic and Related Terrestrial Ecosystems
Publisher : National Academies Press
Page : 291 pages
File Size : 44,9 Mb
Release : 2005-05-14
Category : Science
ISBN : 9780309093187

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Valuing Ecosystem Services by National Research Council,Division on Earth and Life Studies,Water Science and Technology Board,Committee on Assessing and Valuing the Services of Aquatic and Related Terrestrial Ecosystems Pdf

Nutrient recycling, habitat for plants and animals, flood control, and water supply are among the many beneficial services provided by aquatic ecosystems. In making decisions about human activities, such as draining a wetland for a housing development, it is essential to consider both the value of the development and the value of the ecosystem services that could be lost. Despite a growing recognition of the importance of ecosystem services, their value is often overlooked in environmental decision-making. This report identifies methods for assigning economic value to ecosystem servicesâ€"even intangible onesâ€"and calls for greater collaboration between ecologists and economists in such efforts.

Better Environmental Decisions

Author : Ken Sexton,Alfred A. Marcus,K. William Easter,Timothy D. Burkhardt
Publisher : Island Press
Page : 0 pages
File Size : 42,8 Mb
Release : 1998-11-01
Category : Business & Economics
ISBN : 1559636149

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Better Environmental Decisions by Ken Sexton,Alfred A. Marcus,K. William Easter,Timothy D. Burkhardt Pdf

Better Environmental Decisions reponds to the need for improved environmental decision making by bringing together leading scholars and practitioners to provide a comprehensive interdisciplinary introduction to the subject. Each chapter describes an important aspect of environmental decision making; identifies key issues, problems, and barriers; and recommends ways to improve both the process and the final result.Topics examined include: Congressional decisions about regulatory reform environmental benefit/cost analysisvaluing environmental impacts comparing risks and setting priorities strategic environmental management corporate accounting for environmental and social factors corporate responses to rules and regulations community decisions about environmental riskscivic environmentalismcommunity partnerships with industry and governmentThroughout, contributors focus on providing tools to make better decisions, and on presenting solutions to real-world problems.Better Environmental Decisions describes and analyzes the key decision making criteria of each of the stakeholders involved -- governments, businesses, and communities -- and offers a compendium of techniques necessary for achieving success. It will be a landmark reference and resource for anyone involved with environmental decisionmaking, including legislators, regulators, business and environmental managers, environmental advocates, community activists, reporters, researchers, educators, and students.

Environmental Decision-making

Author : Ronnie Harding,Carolyn M. Hendriks,Mehreen Faruqi
Publisher : Unknown
Page : 420 pages
File Size : 54,8 Mb
Release : 2009
Category : Political Science
ISBN : STANFORD:36105134505333

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Environmental Decision-making by Ronnie Harding,Carolyn M. Hendriks,Mehreen Faruqi Pdf

Contemporary environmental decisions are made within the context of sustainability aimed at meeting integrated ecological, economic and social goals. Most involve a complex mix of actors and institutions - differing values and differing interests. Choices are difficult and often controversial, and decision-making processes and contexts provide crucial influences on outcomes.This book explores these processes and context and the influences which affect them. For example:How do different value systems influence what environmental issues come onto the public agenda, and their management? What institutions and actors are involved in the processes and how? What tools are available and what are their limitations? How should we deal with uncertainty and risk? How do we incorporate relevant but very different forms of knowledge, and how do we manage the information 'explosion'? The authors take a multidisciplinary approach and engage in themes from political science, law, economics, philosophy, natural sciences, geography, engineering and sociology. Their book is rich with practical examples, including three extensive case studies that illustrate the complexities and contestations of environmental decision-making..The book is aimed at the ever-widening range of people who are, or are hoping to become, environmental professionals, whether from the scientific, technical or social science fields. It is also relevant for interested members of the public.

Environmental Decisions in the Face of Uncertainty

Author : Institute of Medicine,Board on Population Health and Public Health Practice,Committee on Decision Making Under Uncertainty
Publisher : National Academies Press
Page : 280 pages
File Size : 40,8 Mb
Release : 2013-05-20
Category : Political Science
ISBN : 9780309290234

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Environmental Decisions in the Face of Uncertainty by Institute of Medicine,Board on Population Health and Public Health Practice,Committee on Decision Making Under Uncertainty Pdf

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is one of several federal agencies responsible for protecting Americans against significant risks to human health and the environment. As part of that mission, EPA estimates the nature, magnitude, and likelihood of risks to human health and the environment; identifies the potential regulatory actions that will mitigate those risks and protect public health1 and the environment; and uses that information to decide on appropriate regulatory action. Uncertainties, both qualitative and quantitative, in the data and analyses on which these decisions are based enter into the process at each step. As a result, the informed identification and use of the uncertainties inherent in the process is an essential feature of environmental decision making. EPA requested that the Institute of Medicine (IOM) convene a committee to provide guidance to its decision makers and their partners in states and localities on approaches to managing risk in different contexts when uncertainty is present. It also sought guidance on how information on uncertainty should be presented to help risk managers make sound decisions and to increase transparency in its communications with the public about those decisions. Given that its charge is not limited to human health risk assessment and includes broad questions about managing risks and decision making, in this report the committee examines the analysis of uncertainty in those other areas in addition to human health risks. Environmental Decisions in the Face of Uncertainty explains the statement of task and summarizes the findings of the committee.

Public Participation in Environmental Assessment and Decision Making

Author : National Research Council,Division of Behavioral and Social Sciences and Education,Committee on the Human Dimensions of Global Change,Panel on Public Participation in Environmental Assessment and Decision Making
Publisher : National Academies Press
Page : 322 pages
File Size : 53,9 Mb
Release : 2008-11-07
Category : Political Science
ISBN : 9780309134415

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Public Participation in Environmental Assessment and Decision Making by National Research Council,Division of Behavioral and Social Sciences and Education,Committee on the Human Dimensions of Global Change,Panel on Public Participation in Environmental Assessment and Decision Making Pdf

Federal agencies have taken steps to include the public in a wide range of environmental decisions. Although some form of public participation is often required by law, agencies usually have broad discretion about the extent of that involvement. Approaches vary widely, from holding public information-gathering meetings to forming advisory groups to actively including citizens in making and implementing decisions. Proponents of public participation argue that those who must live with the outcome of an environmental decision should have some influence on it. Critics maintain that public participation slows decision making and can lower its quality by including people unfamiliar with the science involved. This book concludes that, when done correctly, public participation improves the quality of federal agencies' decisions about the environment. Well-managed public involvement also increases the legitimacy of decisions in the eyes of those affected by them, which makes it more likely that the decisions will be implemented effectively. This book recommends that agencies recognize public participation as valuable to their objectives, not just as a formality required by the law. It details principles and approaches agencies can use to successfully involve the public.