Essay - Environmental Policy Integration and Achievements After Reunification of Germany Ii....

Environmental Policy Integration and Achievements After Reunification of Germany

II. Literature Review

Many years ago, the development ***** a systematic environmental policy began in Germany (Fulbrook, 1990). In the years that followed, "environmental protection" became an import*****t established area of policymaking around the world and has increasingly expanded in many countries. This paper examines the history, characteristics and effects of German environmental policy.

***** reunification ***** the two German states (Federal Republic of Germany ***** German Democratic *****) in 1990, created a great new challenge for German ***** policy due to the major environmental damage in the *****mer GDR. ***** addition, the prospects for a rapid and effective solution to the problem were deemed inefficient due ***** the major economic crisis that started during this time. In general, ***** framework conditions ***** a progressive ***** policy declined and the pressure from ***** interest groups to ease environmental regulations incr*****d.

***** these factors, a massive backlash never occurred, due to the high degree of environmental consciousness among ***** general public and the development of an ***** "watchdog" party, the Green Party, as well as m*****y well-organized environmental ***** organizations. There has also been substantial interest of relevant parts of industry in an ecological modernization of ***** ********** structure ***** some specific features of the legal and institutional system in which environmental policy is embedded.

***** literature review provides an overview ***** the development of ***** policy ***** Germany and its effects, the constitutional div*****ion of powers, and the organization of the public administration, followed by a description and analysis of ***** general characteristics of the political culture ***** account for the basic features of German environmental policy.

Brief Review of ********** Environmental History

Regulations and government actions to protect nature and human beings against environmentally hazardous activities of commercial and industrial firms have a long ***** in Germany. Environmental protection is anchored in private and public law, *****cluding building, public health and sanitation, and police laws. The Water Rights Act and ***** Factories Act set the st*****ard for many subsequent laws. ***** various regulations created to prevent offensive emissions from becoming a nuisance to ***** and property were systematized and concentrated for the first time in ***** Prussian Industrial Statute of 1845.

During that time, environmental law ***** on protecting health and ***** in the vicinity of the emitting locati*****. Increasing *****ization demanded a proliferation of ***** statutes and pollution-related responsibilities to be controlled ***** the public authorities. However, a central agency with more comprehensive and primary ***** (management, implementation, control and sanctions) for environmental matters was not ***** until many years later. The possibilities of intervening to protect the environment were extremely limited for decades. The right of the public to protest was ***** limited, as well. ***** public w***** particularly constrained by the "toleration clause" written into ***** civil code, which holds that an individual must accept a certain degree of annoyance and disturbance in the ***** ***** the "common good"—which was ma*****ly concerned with economic interests at *****