I just stumbled across The Enlibra Principles (on the US Environmental Protection Agency site):
The Enlibra Doctrine is an approach to environmental stewardship that
was co-authored by former Utah Governor and later EPA Administrator
Mike Leavitt and former Governor John Kitzhaber of Oregon. Enlibra,
from the Latin, means ‘move toward balance.’ Enlibra is based on the
dual concepts of balance and stewardship, and is built upon principles
of flexibility, innovation, partnership and collaboration. The
philosophy emphasizes collaboration instead of polarization, national
standards and neighborhood solutions, markets instead of mandates,
solutions that transcend political boundaries, and other common sense
ideas that will accelerate environmental progress.
National Standards, Neighborhood Solutions – Assign responsibilities at the right level
Collaboration, Not Polarization – Use collaborative processes to break down barriers and find solutions
Reward Results, Not Programs – Move to a performance-based, instead of process-based, system
Science For Facts, Process for Priorities – Separate subjective choices from objective data gathering
Markets Before Mandates – Pursue economic incentives whenever appropriate
Change a Heart, Change a Nation – Environmental education and understanding are crucial
Recognition of Benefits and Costs – Make sure all decisions affecting infrastructure, development and environment are fully informed
Solutions Transcend Political Boundaries – Use appropriate geographic boundaries to resolve problems
There’s a paragraph more (not excerpted here)
for each of those points, which make it all sound less platitudinous.
Does anyone know more about the history — and the real impact — of
these principles?
(Leavitt of course presided over much of the Bush
EPA’s stealth deregulation program. Kitzhaber, OTOH, presided over some
of the country’s most forward looking sustainability initiatives. I’m
always intrigued by strange bedfellows.)