Global examples in good policy making #2: Public and environmental wellbeing

Till
Jan 13, 2018
3 min read

2017 was a disillusioning year for many. Despite the lingering climate catastrophe and increasingly disparate wealth distribution, governments and politicians indulged in geopolitical power play and displayed inaction regarding effective climate policy, international development and fairer taxation.

Nevertheless, there is noteworthy legislation out there, helping people and planet on the small scale.

A small but uplifting selection of global policy endeavours:

PUBLIC WELLBEING

(1) Many countries (Mexico, France, South Africa, Norway, Sri Lanka, etc.) have successfully implemented a sugar tax. In all cases, it has greatly helped to reduce consumption of sugary drinks and food, and incentivised manufacturer to come up with less sugary products.

(2) Since a while, companies in France pay an additional fee for advertising unhealthy food and an awareness notice follows directly after (similar to tobacco commercials). This has an effect particularly on children and caring parents.

(3) The city of Tallinn (capital of Estonia) permits its inhabitants free inner city public transport, boosting the economy (less time spend in traffic jams) more than it costs the state. Plus all the environmental benefits and the increased social cohesion. Vienna has reduced its annual ticket to only 365 Euro, 1€ per day.

(4) Post-Brexit UK has decided to reduce the taxes paid for first-time house buyers if the property is valued below £300k, especially helping young people while still drawing in money from the people that can afford to pay the tax.

(5) Lower Saxony, a state in Germany has advanced animal protection in factory farming operations.

It is now prohibited to remove the beak of laying hens, causing the poultry farmers to rethink the way they raise them as the inherent cannibalism of tightly raised chicken would make operations infeasible.

Additionally, the government pays a subsidy for every pig that is brought to slaughter with their tails intact. High density rearing inflicts stress in these animals, causing them to bite of each other’s tails, resulting in infections and subsequent antibiotic use. Farmers with good practices are now rewarded for granting individual animals more space. However, despite this new law, farmers still struggle economically as the estimated additional cost for increased space requirements is around 30 € per pig while the subsidy only pays 16.50€.

(6) France passed a law that allows suing of large companies on top of the vertical supply chain (e.g. large food retailers) for human rights violations of their suppliers. Fines up to 30M € pressurize big corporations to ensure fair treatment of workers across the globe.

ENVIRONMENTAL WELLBEING

(7) Since a few years, San Francisco has successfully introduced mandatory recycling and composting plans, including harsh measures for violations. This has not only reduced the environmental footprint of the city but they have also managed to make profits from the valorisation of organic waste streams.

(8) Ireland has decided to completely divest its state-owned funds from fossil fuel companies. Their main rationale is that they don’t want to support global corporations that manipulate climate science and engage in controversial lobbying practices.

(9) Amid increased awareness about the terrible effects of nitrogen run-off, Denmark plays a vanguard role with their prohibition of fertiliser spraying introduced many years ago. Nitrogen run-off leads to algae build-up in lakes and rivers, pollutes groundwater and creates nitrous oxide through bacterial decomposition – the main source of emissions from agriculture after livestock farming. Fertiliser may only be applied directly into the ground with allowed quantities depending on crop type, causing much reduced run off and better water quality. Even manure can only be applied up during the main growing season.