One reason environmental policy tends to be so controversial is that most people feel that government is already doing enough to control pollution. environmental policy creates winners and losers who share equally in costs and benefits. environmental issues mobilize voters and swing elections. so many environmental issues are enmeshed in scientific uncertainty environmental policy often takes the form of majoritarian politics, which requires strong emotional appeals to overcome the political advantage of client groups.
One reason environmental policy tends to be so controversial is that environmental policy creates winners and losers who share equally in costs and benefits.
