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Enactment of any environmental policy should be followed by an evaluation of its efficacy to ensure optimal utilization of limited resources, yet measuring the success of these policies can be a challenging task owing to a dearth of data and confounding factors. We examine the efficacy of ballast water policies enacted to prevent biological invasions in the Laurentian Great Lakes. We utilize four criteria to assess the efficacy of this environmental regulation; (1) Is the prescribed management action demonstrably effective? (2) Is the management action effective under operational conditions? (3) Can compliance be achieved on a broad scale? (4) Are desired changes observed in the environment? The four lines of evidence resulting from this analysis indicate that the Great Lakes ballast water management program provides robust, but not complete, protection against ship-mediated biological invasions. Our analysis also indicates that corresponding inspection and enforcement efforts should be undertaken to ensure that environmental policies translate into increased environmental protection. Similar programs could be implemented immediately around the world to protect the biodiversity of the many freshwater ecosystems which receive ballast water discharges by international vessels. This general framework can be extended to evaluate efficacy of other environmental policies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on the enforcement problems and solutions in the Western Climate Initiative (WCI) between Canada and the U.S. It states that WCI began in February 2007 as a cooperative effort of seven U.S. States and four Canadian Provinces, an initiative that will attempt to reduce greenhouse gases (GHGs) and fight global warming. It cites that the problem lies in encouraging the involved parties to comply with their obligations under the initiative, since it contains no enforcement body. It mentions that WCI will be more comprehensive than the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) in the Northeast.

The Citizen Submissions on Enforcement Matters is administered by the North American Commission for Environmental Cooperation (CEC), a trilateral institution established by the governments of Canada, Mexico, and the United States as part of the North American Agreement on Environmental Cooperation (NAAEC). The CEC received 55 submissions from June 1995 to May 2006, although these remain to be substantially discussed in the literature. This study fills in some of the gaps through an analysis of the submission process from an actor- and results-based perspective. Two guiding questions form the basis for this article: What are some key demographic or geographical differences among ‘whistle-blowers’ and has the submission process achieved its goals? The conclusion is that key differences among submitters are due to such interlinked factors as gender, place, and issue, which should be more carefully considered by the CEC and other related institutions to enhance effectiveness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article presents an overview of progress and future directions in air quality management in Europe, the United States, and Canada. The article describes the role of the European Commission, the Clean Air for Europe program, and the World Health Organization (WHO) in devising policies to reduce health risks due to air pollution in Europe. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) standards for particulate matter (PM), air quality monitoring programs, and research efforts to support air quality management strategies are discussed. The unique aspects of air quality management in Canada are identified, including the need for a better understanding of the true burden of health effects and improved communication strategies to inform the public and stakeholders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Discusses several issues related to environmental problems and protection. Issuance of a health standard for airborne lead by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency on September 29, 1978; Examination of whether high technologies could solve the energy problem; Comparison of the environmental policies in Quebec and Ontario, Canada.