environmental Science

As an environmentalist, you are very interested in how economics plays a role in determining how many and what type of environmental laws are passed. There are many environmental laws that are determined by economic conditions.

Choose 1 environmental law to research and give a detailed description of the law including the following:

• The date the law was passed
• Describe the law; what are the provisions of the law?
• Background information: What initiated the law? Why was it passed?
• What economic impact was generated by the law? What kinds of costs, fines, or economic benefits are associated with the law? Provide economic data to support this.
• Do you feel that this particular environmental law has improved the environment/situation? Why or why not?

This assignment will also be assessed using additional criteria provided here.

Please submit your assignment.

The following grading rubric will be used for this assignment.

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Part 1

• How can sound science and the scientific method be used to help evaluate and solve an environmental issue?
  • Give 1 specific example.
• How do people who are not scientists evaluate the claims and different positions taken in debates about environmental issues?
  • Give 1 example.
• How might the term sound sciencebe misused or misunderstood?
  • Give 1 example, and explain.

Part 2

Read the following 2 articles in the Web Resources about the debate about global warming:

• Global Warming Pro: U.S. Global Change Research Program: Global Climate Change Impacts in the United States.
• Global Warming Con: Heartland Institute: Climate Change Reconsidered: 2011 Interim Report.

Do you think that global warming is a credible threat or not? Explain your position based on what you read in the 2 summary articles.

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