Course:POLI380JAN2011Owen/Survey/Environment--Government Policy

Topic: == Environment--Government policy (Questions on local, provincial, or federal environmental policies) ==

Reminder: Write properly structured questions, including simple text for response options. Use the discussion tab above for discussion of advantages and disadvantages of particular questions and their wording.

Contributors: 1. Jason Lynch 2. Marie Vander Zalm 3. Ilona Gregor 4. kelli hobbs 5. Boris Ranisavljevic 6. Samantha Rousseau 7. Sadie Chezenko 8. Rastko Stanisavljevic 9. Rasmus Thisner 10. Thomas Walker 11. Jennifer Bradshaw 12. Nikola Ciric 13.Kevin English 14. Nicolai Madsen 15. Colin Suzuki

1. What resource do you think is most necessary for interest groups in order to influence environmental policies? Circle one.

a) Money b) Public support c) Political and / or business contacts e) Scientific backing f) Organizational strength g) Media coverage

2. How effective do you think each of the following interest groups are in influencing environmental policies made by the government? Rank each of the following groups;

Energy firms: 1) very effective 2) somewhat effective 3) neutral 4) somewhat ineffective 5) very ineffective

Trade associations: 1) very effective 2) somewhat effective 3) neutral 4) somewhat ineffective 5) very ineffective

Environmental Non-Governmental Organizations ('NGO's'): 1) very effective 2) somewhat effective 3) neutral 4) somewhat ineffective 5) very ineffective

Aboriginal Groups: 1) very effective 2) somewhat effective 3) neutral 4) somewhat ineffective 5) very ineffective

3. Who do you think has the greatest ability to formulate effective environmental policies?

a)International governmental organization b)Federal government c) Provincial government d)Municipal government e) Nongovernmental organizations f) Individuals

4. Agree or disagree with the following statements, by circling (A) for agree and (D) for disagree

a) Carbon taxes should be used to fund environmental projects such as solar energy technology. (A) (D)

b) I'm unsure about current government policy on the environment. (A) (D)

c) Companies that release carbon emissions should be fined, taxed, or capped proportionally to their emissions. (A) (D)

d) Companies that cause environmental damage should pay for the restoration of the land or water to its original state before exploitation of that land. (A) (D)

e) Governments should monitor and regulate firms and their effects on the environment. (A) (D)

f) Firms should be responsible for the monitoring of their effects on the environment. (A) (D)

o) The provincial government should introduce a composting system in Vancouver. (A) (D)

g) Alternative green energies (for example solar or wind) should be subsidized to lower initial consumer costs. (A) (D)

h) I'm unsure if the government should or should not enact environmental legislation. (A) (D)

i) I'm unsure of environmental issues. (A) (D)

j) The environment should not be a major priority for any level of government. (A) (D)

k) The economy is more important than the environment. (A) (D)

l) Global warming is not a threat to the environment. (A) (D)

m) Global warming is natural and has not been caused by humans. (A) (D)

n) Global warming is natural and has not been accelerated by humans. (A) (D)

o) BC waterways should be free of oil tanker traffic (A) (D)

5. Classify the following issues as very important (1), somewhat important (2), not very important (3) not important (4) or don't know (5) in consideration of the environmental implications in Canada.

__ Alberta tar sands

__ Loss of biodiversity

__ Air pollution and air quality

__ Climate change

__ Overfishing

__ Waste disposal

__ Water pollution