GEF

Unit 8  |  Government and Sustainability 181 CHECK YOUR UNDERSTANDING 1. What are the three basic avenues of government responses to promoting sustainability? What are some examples of early government regulation? What are examples of successful government regulation? 2. Explain how Cap and Trade and pollution taxes use economic incentives to address environmental problems. 3. What are the main challenges that governments have in promoting a comprehensive sustainability agenda? 4. How have businesses benefitted from regulations to improve their environmental performance? GROWYOUR KNOWLEDGE There are three basic avenues of government responses to addressing our environmental sustainability challenges: regulation, taxation, and subsidies. There have been many examples of environmental regulation throughout history. One of the most successful modern examples is that of the Montreal Protocol. In this activity, you will learn more about the Montreal Protocol and discuss how case studies can help guide us in determining the best role of government in promoting sustainability. 1. With your teacher’s permission, research the depletion of the ozone layer. Find the answers to these questions: a. What is the ozone layer and why is it important? b. What causes ozone depletion? c. What are the possible effects of a depleted ozone layer? 2. Again, with your teacher’s permission research the Montreal Protcol. Find the answers to these questions: a. What is the Montreal Protocol? b. What did the Montreal Protocol aim to achieve? c. In what ways was the Montreal Protocol successful and in what ways was it not successful? 3. Use the information you learned from your research to write a summary of your findings. Cite your sources.