Module 10 - Command and Control

Question 1

Bans

Answer 1

Whatever activity is being identified is prohibited. If you break the ban, there will be some form of formal punishment.

Question 2

What is an example of an upcoming federal ban and recent city ban?

Answer 2

Banned single-use plastics
- plastic grocery check out bags
- straws
- stir sticks
- six pack rings
- plastic cutlery
- takeout containers made from hard to recycle plastics

Question 3

Case Study: Chicago Plastic Bag Ban

Answer 3

Anticipated outcome: ppl would say NO to plastic bags and bring your own bag

Actual outcome: single use plastic bags were defined as a certain thickness; stores sold plastic bags at a heavier wt; ppl still treated them as single use = more plastic waste

Change in Strategy: appealed the ban and started taxing the bags instead and saw a reduction in plastic bag use

Question 4

What is driving the ban of single use plastics?

Answer 4

Want to prevent microplastics, not so much GHG emissions!
- important to note bc ppl will argue that paper bags emit more GHG, use more water, and use more energy, which is true BUT they don’t emit microplastics

Question 5

Alberta’s Power Plant Coal Use Ban

Answer 5

Bans on coal so other options for energy production are sought out.
- phase out has been happening quicker than the ban due to the price of GHG’s

Question 6

3 Considerations on Bans

Answer 6

1. Bans work best when highly preferable alternative solutions are easy to adopt
2. Bans have unintended consequences so adaptive management is important
3. Sometimes due to the negative consequences of an issue, bans may be the preferable alternative even if market demand will not be satisfied with substitutes. In such cases strong enforcement will be needed.

Question 7

Non-Tradable Quota’s

Answer 7

A prescribed number or share of something

Question 8

Technology Standards

Answer 8

Dictates a particular technology or procedure that must be followed when doing something
- ex. all cars must have Catalytic Converters
- no flexibility or encouragement to innovate- just follow the rule as written

Question 9

Procedural Standards

Answer 9

Dictates a particular procedure that must be followed when doing something
- All new buildings must undertake an Environmental Impact Assessment
- All farms must have a nutrient management plan
- All tailings must be tested for levels of specific toxins prior to discarding
- Don’t cross until the little walking guy appears

Question 10

Performance Based Standards

Answer 10

Dictates a performance standard for certain activities/products. Think of this as an outcome standard. Allows those affected to use innovation and flexibility to meet the goals.
- EU limits car emissions
- Water wells must provide safe water and prevent aquifer mixing
- Cross the street when it is safe to do so

Question 11

1975 Environmental Problem

Answer 11

• NOx and CO being released
• Known solution is to install catalytic converter onto cars
• Policy Options
  1. Technical Standard: all cars must have catalytic converters
  2. Performance Based Standard: states “ must emit less than X pollutants per km traveled”

Question 12

1975 Honda Civic

Answer 12

1975 Civic (a Japanese car) built to be extremely efficient; did much better than North American cars with catalytic converters regarding emissions.
- spurred debate regarding the best way to regulate emissions; technology standards or performance based standards

Question 13

Why: Efficiency of Pricing vs Other Approaches
aka Why don’t economists like regulations?

Answer 13

Economists argue that pricing carbon is a much more efficient way than regulating things and subsidizing things. Why? Gives everyone freedom to choose how they respond to prices. With regulations there is no freedom to choose = less efficient.
- Gov doesn’t know everyone’s unique situation however if you just add a cost (not a regulation) ppl are free to choose (depending on their situation)

Question 14

Andrew Leach

Answer 14

Article
- Economists all known C taxes are great and most cost-effective way to reduce pollution
- However, he argued that if ppl don’t want the tax we might have to go with subsidies and regulations; the thing that gets put in place and stays in place is what works

Who is this man
- Key advisor to NDP gov when they put in the Carbon Tax; he is probably the main reason why the tax exists

Question 15

Prior to the 1990’s what was the favored form of policy instrument?

Answer 15

Command and Control
- very clear outline of expected impact and in some cases can be very effective policy
- can be cumbersome for government due to cost of regulating, monitoring, and enforcing
- limited flexibility = big problem
- at times, can still be more politically feasible than better instruments