Environmental policy is what governments do to protect the environment. It includes laws, regulations, taxes, subsidies, and international agreements. Clean air acts, endangered species protections, and carbon pricing all fall under the umbrella. The goals range from reducing pollution to conserving biodiversity to slowing climate change.

Policy tools vary. Command-and-control regulations set limits and require technology. Market-based tools like cap and trade or carbon taxes put a price on pollution. Information programs, like fuel economy labels, guide consumer choice. Subsidies support clean technology. Most successful policies combine several approaches.

Politics shapes everything. Environmental rules create winners and losers. Industry groups lobby against costs. Environmental groups push for stronger protections. International agreements require countries to cede some sovereignty. The Paris Agreement relies on voluntary national pledges. Enforcement is weak. Yet the framework has pushed countries to act. Policy is messy, contested, and essential.

Common tools

• Regulations and standards
• Carbon taxes
• Cap and trade
• Subsidies for clean technology
• International treaties