The Environmental Case: Translating Values Into Policy

Environmental policy cannot be seen in just black and white, but instead contains many shades of gray. Environmental battles―even the most heated―are essentially conflicts among those with fundamentally different values, and how problems are framed in politics plays a central role in shaping how these values are translated into policies. Judith Layzer explores these two main themes in environmental policy making in the anticipated third edition of The Environmental Case.

Through its 16 carefully constructed cases, the book gives readers a first-hand look at some of the most interesting and illuminating controversies in U.S. environmental policy making. New to this edition, Layzer expands the final section of her book to consider the issue of resilience in the face of a changing climate. This third edition features fully revised and updated case studies, as well as three brand-new cases: Cape Wind and Alternative Energy, Ecosystem-Based Management in the Chesapeake Bay, and the restoration of New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina. Lazyer provides maps, tables, figures, questions to consider, recommended readings, and useful websites to help students think critically about environmental policy and to facilitate further research.