Global Warming Policy Making

Global warming is an unavoidable source of discussion in this day and age. It is a clearly defined concept with varying definitions of severity in how it will affect the earth and its population. According to the Wikipedia "global warming refers to the increase in the average temperature of the Earth's near-surface air and oceans in recent decades and its projected continuation (Wikipedia, 2007)." There is some controversy regarding the controllability or the naturalness of such occurrences. Dye (2005) explains that policy makers must consider all scientific findings when determining this. Dye further elucidates that interest groups use selective scientific evidence in order to "rally public opinion and pressure political officeholders to action (p.228)." Two interest groups, attempting a rally for action, are The EDF (Environmental Defense Fund) and Friends of the Earth. Both share some similar approaches while each embraces their own philosophies and techniques as well.

The EDF, founded in 1967, uses "innovative, practical ways to solve the most urgent environmental problems (Environmental Defense, 2007)." The innovative approach they use is explained in their mission statement. In it they explain that they refrain from "engaging in confrontation" and prefer to collaborate with other "stake holders" and "roll up" their sleeves, "and introduce change". They use more Ph. D. scientist and economist than other interest groups. There other claim to a unique approach is that they offer solutions rather than just problems. In 1998 an atmospheric physicist Dr. Michael Oppenheimer, the climate director of EDF at that time, determined "that human-caused global warming might so accelerate polar melting that the West Antarctic Ice Sheet could begin to collapse, setting off a chain of events that ultimately would raise sea levels 20 feet (Environmental Defense, 2007)." This discovery motivated awareness and change in scientists and policy makers. Oppenheimer further contributed to the determination of a solution. He gathered a scientific community, collaboratively studied "melting ice sheets" and discovered their solution.

EDF takes the approach that in order to change one must engage corporations. They refrain from confrontations with corporations. Alternatively they use a partnership approach. "It is not just altruism that moves major corporations to join us: Rather, our scientists, economists and engineers quantify the benefits of improving efficiency and reducing waste (Environmental Defense, 2007)." They maintain that a healthy planet can go "hand in hand" with economic growth. They also rally for public opinion by stating that without snow "our economy is dead." This is taking a rational approach. They also make themselves heard by partnering up like this and rallying for more public opinion so that they are a larger more powerful group in front of policy makers.

Friends of the Earth also attempts to tackle global warming. They were founded in 1969. They merged with another leading activist group in 2005. They appear to have an aggressive approach at tackling issues. They pride themselves in having stopped "over 150 bad dams and water projects worldwide; ban international whaling; oust infamous James Watt; press for landmark regulations of strip mining and oil tankers; reform the World Bank; and eliminate billions in taxpayer subsidies to corporate polluters (Friends of the Earth)."

Friends of the Earth confront issues head on through legal means. They, along with Greenpeace and the City of Boulder, CO. filed a lawsuit in U.S. district court. Theses suits are to confront two government agencies; "the Export Import Bank (ExIm) and the Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC) (Friends of the Earth)." They have included three other cities into their lawsuit. "The lawsuit alleges that Ex-Im and OPIC illegally provided over $32 billion in financing and insurance for oil fields, pipelines and coal-fired power plants over 10 years without assessing their contribution to global warming, or their impact on the US environment as required under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) (Friends of the Earth)."

Friends of the Earth's efforts are meant to result in the Bush administration taking "meaningful action" on the climate change. The ultimate goal is that the U.S. takes global warming seriously, phase out the support for fossil fuel, and phase in the support for renewable energy. "The legal action will also demonstrate that climate change impacts are real and harmful to people across the United States (Friends of the Earth)." There are some clear similarities and differences found while exploring the two different organizations.

They are alike in that they both utilize scientific evidence to support their claims. Both organizations incorporate global warming into a much larger scope of environmental policy issues. Both organizations gain power in numbers and breadth. They make themselves heard to the mass population by way of multimedia efforts. Both do rally for increase social support and increased size and power by numbers. The approaches by each organization differ as well.

EDF uses scientific data more thoroughly. The organization itself is made up of scientific experts. There scientific data, unlike Friends of the Earth, initiates a solution to a problem. Alternatively Friends of the Earth uses scientific data to hold companies and government accountable for negative consequences to current behavior. EDF approaches companies and government with solution based efforts in which they are willing to partner in. Friends of the Earth use the court system to send a clear message. Though the groups share the same final goal, their means for reaching it differ. EDF takes a far less aggressive approach than Friends of the Earth. However they both are facing these issues head on with conviction and long success records.

References

Dye, Thomas R. (2005). Understanding Public Policy eleventh edition. New Jersey 07458

Environmental Defense Fund (2007). Retrieved on July 15, 2007 from http://www.environmentaldefense.org/page.cfm?tagID=381

Friends of the Earth retrieved on July 15, 2007 from http://www.foe.org/about/report.htmlWikipedia.Retrieved July 15, 2007 from Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Affirmative_action#Justifications , modified