Environmental Policy for Business: A Manager's Guide to Smart Regulation

Inthecontextoftheworldwideconcernwiththesustainabilityofcurrentformsofdevelopment,businessmanagersarebeingrequiredtoengagewithenvironmentalpolicymorecreativelythaninthepast.Atthebroadestlevel,businessmanagersarebeingadvisedtoembraceregulationasasourceofcompetitiveadvantageratherthanviewingitsimplyasacompliancecostandadministrativeburden.Irrespectiveofwhethermanagersacceptthat"goingbeyondcompliance"isastimulusforinnovation,businessmanagersfrequentlyfaceapolicyenvironmentinwhichchoicesneedtobemadeoverhowpolicyagendasshouldberespondedto.Contemporarypolicyapproachesmaymandatedemonstrationofbestpractice,withoutdeningwhatconstitutesbestpracticeorusepolicyapproachesthatgivetheoptionof"payingforpollution"orinvestingincleantechnology.Frequently,theargumentismadethattherearereputationalgainstobeingafirstmoverandputtingtheorganizationaheadofregulation,buttheimplicationcanbeconsiderableupfrontinvestmentforuncertainreturns.Againstthiscontext,thisbookprovidesaguidetothenewworldofenvironmentalregulationformanagerswithinbusinessandstudentswithaparticularinterestinunderstandinghowenvironmentalregulationworks.