List the four stages of the policy life cycle, and show how the discovery of ozone layer destruction and the subsequent responses to it illustrate the cycle

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

The typical life cycle of environmental public policy development has four stages. The stages are recognition, formulation, implementation, and control. Recognition is the process through which the early perceptions of an environmental problem occur and a great deal of dissension exists. CFCs were considered miracle chemicals, useful for many processes and seemingly harmless, inert, and nontoxic. That was until two scientists decided to investigate what happens to CFCs in the atmosphere. When they published their theory that CFCs would destroy the ozone they were treated like pariahs and even Russian spies! No one wanted to believe that CFCs were harmful. Formulation is the stage where the political weight of those who perceive a problem is increasing. "The public is now aroused, and debate about policy options occurs in the corridors of power." Those that make the policies have listed what may be called the "Three E's" of environmental public policy: effectiveness, efficiency, and equity. During this stage, the National Academy of Sciences confirmed the findings of these scientists and CFCs were subsequently banned from aerosol cans. On the international level, the Montreal Protocol was written and required cutting CFC production in half by the year 2000 . The process had begun. The implementation stage is where ". . . real political and economic costs are exacted. The policy has been determined, and the focal point moves to regulatory agencies." Companies began developing more benign substitutes for the CFCs while using less CFCs in their processes, refrigerators, and air conditioners. The control stage is the final stage. ". . . Years have passed since the early days of the recognition stage. Problems are rarely completely resolved, but the environment is improving, with things moving in the right direction." The ozone hole appears to be decreasing in size with less CFCs in the atmosphere. CFCs are no longer being manufactured.