Activity 7-2
Green Plans

 

Objectives

  • ·To become aware of national and local government efforts to move towards a sustainable economy
  • To understand the components of a green plan and how these differ from usual policy
  • To apply a green plan to important sectors of a local economy

Materials

Time Two - four periods and/or homework

Evaluation

Completion of answers to handout

Participation in group planning and presentation

Vocabulary

green plan CPR for the environment externalities free goods command and control regulations economic goods market based approach subsidies tax breaks eco-taxes government mandated vs. negotiated pollution credits

Suggested Procedure

1. Have a class discussion. Ask students what a government could do to increase the GPI (Activity 6-2) or improve the condition of the environment. Compile a list of their responses organizing ideas into regulations, taxes, expenditures, education, etc. Tell students that they have constructed a "green plan" and now they will read ideas on how they can work and are working in some countries and areas.

2. Have students read handout and answer related questions.

3. Debrief handout with students. Make sure students have clear understanding of central characteristics and how they differ from usual policy. List characteristics on the board. Have students consider how the current federal budget [7-1] would have to change to implement a green plan.

4. Divide students into groups by the economic sectors on the handout. There should be two groups for each topic.

5. Have students read over handout: Making A Local Green Plan and develop a plan.

6. Have students present their plans. Students in audience should vote for which plan from each sector they think would work best.

7. Have a class discussion about the four selected sector plans and how they might work together to make a Green Plan that is "large scale, comprehensive and integrative." In goal setting, discuss the difference between when goals are government mandated or negotiated with industry and other groups (as in Netherlands and California's "Investment for Prosperity"). Also, differentiate strategies between market based approaches (pollution credits, taxes, subsidies) and a regulatory approach (enforced limits). Add other terms from vocabulary list. to discussion when appropriate.

"Green Plans"

Study Questions

Foreword (by David Brower):

1. List the author's concerns about the "state of the earth".

2. List what he feels needs to be done. Refer to CPR in part of your answer.

3. Describe how the "Investment for Prosperity" program was developed. What is it?

4. What has the Netherlands done in their 25 Year Plan?

Introduction:

Explain using detail:

5. the many characteristics of "green plans".

6. the primary obstacle to implementing them.

Update (1997):

7. What has the Netherlands done? Minnesota? San Jose? the US government?
 

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