Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
Figure 11.2
Main actors in causing environmental problems and environmental policy
ities that are harmful to the environment. The construction and maintenance of such
infrastructure also often negatively affect the environment. At the same time, gov-
ernments demand products and services for their own operations that negatively impact
upon the environment. Taking consumer preferences as given, industry influences
environmental problems through the design characteristics of products or services and
the production processes deployed. Taking supply of goods and services as given, con-
sumers put strains on the environment via the manner in which they make use of the
products and services bought on the market or that they produce for self-supply respec-
tively. Knowing that neither consumer preferences nor supply of goods and services
are given, an important interdependency exists between industry and consumers that
works via the market. While industry influences consumer demand through the scope
of alternatives supplied, the price, and marketing and public relations activities, con-
sumers make their choice of which products and services are profitable.
One area of environmental policy is focused upon the supply of relevant infra-
structure and government operations in general (eg procurement). Political action is
predominantly directed at the interrelationship of industry and consumers, on the one
hand, and the government, on the other. Industry is subject to governmental policies
relating to the design of goods and production processes. At the same time, govern-
ments are targeted by industry through related lobbying activities. Governments also
address consumers via policies designed to render consumption more environmentally
sound, while consumers influence government decision-making through political
participation of various kinds. Environmental non-governmental organizations (NGOs)
have become an important element of political participation, which is expressed not
only via a relationship with government, but also via influence on production and
consumption decisions beyond narrow product specifications and price. Additional
pressure may come from capital markets, as far as these factor environmental account-
ability and related risks of sectors and individual companies into investment deci-
sions.
