Understanding Environmental Policy
Environmental policy is a complex and
multidimensional issue. On Friday, October 15th Dr. Steven Cohen,
Director, Columbia University's MPA Program in Environmental Science
and Policy; Director, Columbia University’s Executive MPA Program;
Director, Earth Institute's Office of Educational Programs; and
Executive Director, New York City Initiative, presented a talk for the
Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory Colloquium Series on "Understanding
Environmental Policy." The Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory
Colloquiums are held on Friday afternoons at 3:30pm in Monell
Auditorium. Past Colloquium speakers include Peter Kelemen of the
Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences at Columbia University,
Doug Wiens of Washington University in St. Louis, Chuck Fisher of
Pennsylvania State University, David Lochbaum of the Union of
Concerned Scientists, Vice Admiral Conrad Lautenbacher(Undersecretary
of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere and NOAA Administrator) formerly
of the United States Navy, Tim Lyons of the University of Missouri,
Alan Plumb of MIT and Becky Lange of the University of Michigan.
Following the structure of his forthcoming book titled, Understanding
Environmental Policy, scheduled for publication in 2005, Cohen
discussed a framework for understanding how environmental issues reach
the political agenda and how environmental policy is formulated and
managed.
"Though environmental problems are multidimensional, different types
of environmental issues are weighted toward different conceptual
orientations," said Dr. Cohen. During the talk examined how
environment problems can be seen as issues of values, politics,
management and science and technology, while suggesting ways to
improve future policy. To illustrate the topics, Dr. Cohen applied his
framework to areas of Waste Management in New York City, Leaking
Underground Tanks, Toxic Waste Clean Up and Climate Change. "The
domination or taming of the environment has long been a theme in the
development of western politics, economics, society and religion, but
in order to understand how to design policy you have to take a look at
the issues from all sides," explained Dr. Cohen.
Steven Cohen has been teaching Public Management and Environmental
Policy for over 25 years and has served on the US EPA Administrator's
National Advisory Council for Environmental Policy and Technology
since 2002. He has written several books on Public Management
including The New Effective Public Manager co-written with William B.
Eimicke, Tools for Innovators: Creative Strategies for Managing Public
Sector Organizations co-written with William B. Eimicke, Environmental
Regulation through Strategic Planning with Sheldon Kamieniecki, and
Total Quality Management in Government co-written with Ronald Brand.
Dr. Cohen has also co-authored papers on subjects such as Parks
Management, Environmental Policy and Contracting including:
"Reorganizing the United States Environmental Protection Agency,
Region II: A Reinvention Response," "Trends in 20th Century United
States Government Ethics" co-written with William B. Eimicke,
"Managing Workfare: The Case of the Work Experience Program in the New
York City Parks Department," "A Conceptual Framework for Devolving
Responsibility and Functions from the Government to the Private
Sector," "Catastrophe and the Public Service: A Case Study of the
Government Response to the Destruction of the World Trade Center"
co-written with William B. Eimicke and Jessica Horan, and
"Environmental Policy at its Most Fundamental: The Case of New York
City's Solid Waste Crisis."
Dr. Cohen received his BA from Franklin College of Indiana in 1974.
Dr. Cohen received his MA from State University of New York (SUNY),
Buffalo in 1977 and his PhD in 1979.
His past professional experience includes: Director, Graduate Program
in Public Policy and Administration, Columbia University, School of
International and Public Affairs, 1985-98; Vice Dean, 1998-2001;
Associate Dean, 1987-98. Management consultant, ICF, Inc., 1985-91;
Project Director, National Academy of Public Administration, Hazardous
Waste Management Project, 1985; Senior Associate, ICF, Inc., 1984;
Environmental Protection Specialist, U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency, Superfund Organization,
1980-81; Rockefeller fellow in environmental policy implementation,
1978-79; Research fellow, Environmental Studies Center, SUNY, Buffalo,
1976-79. Consultant: Transitional Work Corporation, 1999-2001;
Brooklyn College, 1994-97; New York City Department of Parks and
Recreation, 1992-94; U.S. DOE, 1983-84; USEPA, 1981-97, 1977-78.
