Date of Award
2024
Degree Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Arts in Marine Affairs
Department
Marine Affairs
First Advisor
Elizabeth Mendenhall
Abstract
Marine plastic pollution is a serious and escalating issue. In response, many towns and cities in Rhode Island have created ordinances to reduce the amount of plastic pollution in our waters and land. These ordinances are surprisingly similar, even though towns have distinct cultures and demographics. What factors explain the similarities and differences between these ordinances? What can those factors tell us about future expansion and adoption of anti-plastic pollution ordinances across the state? This thesis analyzes local ordinances and meeting minutes to generate questions for supplementary interviews with town/city council members. The research is framed by theories of local policy making: representative democracy, community input, and action bias/band wagoning.
Findings reveal that local policymaking is shaped by a combination of democratic processes, public advocacy, and expert guidance. The three theories focused on in this research help explain these processes, but only partially as there are external factors that also shape local level decision making. Elected officials respond to constituent concerns, especially about wildlife and ecosystem protection, aligning with growing public environmental awareness. Community input strongly influences ordinance language, while expert advice ensures compliance with legal and environmental standards. Additionally, action bias and band wagoning are evident, as municipalities often adopt language from neighboring towns to simplify the policy process and reduce uncertainty. These findings highlight the role of local participation in shaping environmental policy and suggest that the similarities across ordinances could pave the way for broader actions across the state. Ultimately, even though there where some possible limitations to this research because of the low number of interviews, this study offers valuable insights into how local policies can contribute to larger environmental movements and inform future efforts to reduce plastic pollution.
Recommended Citation
Parise, Alyssa, "EXPLAINING THE SIMILARITIES BETWEEN ANTI-PLASTIC POLLUTION ORDINANCES IN RHODE ISLAND TOWNS" (2024). Open Access Master's Theses. Paper 2570.
https://digitalcommons.uri.edu/theses/2570
