24. Reflection and Lessons

Environmental Politics and Law (EVST 255)

The final lecture reviews topics discussed in previous lectures by imagining an ideal society. Professor Wargo talks about success stories in land management in the Adirondacks and pesticide regulation, and notes ongoing challenges in food safety, drinking water quality, personal consumption, population control, and the creation of parks and protected areas. He lectures about the fractured nature of environmental management at different levels of government, and the way governmental and corporate secrecy have affected environmental regulation. He ends the lecture with advice for students.

00:00 - Chapter 1. Case Updates on Earth Day; Imagining an Ideal Society
07:53 - Chapter 2. What's Been Successful and Why
17:38 - Chapter 3. Ongoing Challenges
35:34 - Chapter 4. Poverty, Wealth and the Environment; Narrative Advantage
43:16 - Chapter 5. Key to Success: A Few Reflections

Complete course materials are available at the Open Yale Courses website: http://open.yale.edu/courses

This course was recorded in Spring 2010.