Environmental Policies, Law, and Management

Environmental Policies, Law, and Management

Policies

• This unit focuses on environmental policies, laws, and management practices.
• It includes the concept and objectives of environmental policy, focusing on the evolution of Indian environmental policy.
• UN Conferences and commissions, including UNCHE, WCED, UNCED, WSSD, and Rio+20 are covered.
• International agreements such as CLRTAP, Basel Convention, the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), CITES, Cartagena Protocol, TRIPS, and Vienna Convention, including the concept of carbon trading, are also discussed.
• International organizations like FAO, UNEP, UNDP, and IUCN are highlighted.
• The national organizations MoEFCC and PCBs are mentioned.

Environment Laws

• Important laws include the Wildlife Protection Act of 1972.
• The Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act of 1974 and the Water Cess Act of 1977 are mentioned.
• The Forest Conservation Act of 1980 exists.
• The Air (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act of 1981 is noted.
• The Environment Protection Act of 1986, along with its subordinate Acts and Rules.
• The Biodiversity Act of 2002 is included.
• The role of the National Green Tribunal is also discussed.
• Significant environmental movements such as Chipko, Silent Valley, Bishnoi, Narmada Bachao Andolan, and Nava Danya are listed

Practices

• These are Environmental standards- MINAS, NAAQS, BIS, WHO, AQI, and Emission standards
• Environmental audits and ISO 14000 certification audits are mentioned.
• Earth Hour, carbon sequestration, and Green Buildings are discussed.
• EIA, including its concept, objectives, principles, generic process, and the concept of EIA in India, is covered.
• Environmental and health applications of IT and AI are included.

Environmental Management

• Key element required for maximum environmental and economic benefits is Environmental Policy.
• This policy ensures compliance with environmental requirements, identifies environmental impacts, and prevents pollution.

Environmental Policy

• The EP forms the backbone and skeletal framework for interaction, decision making and future policies regarding environmental concerns.
• The EP acts as a blueprint for repetitive/routine state activities.
• It has a dual role i.e. Functional, to guide decisions and achieve rational outcomes and Informative , to communicate to a wide and varied audience level of commitment.
• Environmental policies must provide answers to global megatrends.
• Aims to ensure that both production and consumption are sustainable.

Objectives of Environmental Policies

• Principles of Sustainable Management (WCED, 1989)
• Adopt the highest level of standards, for example, WHO, BIS, MINAS, NAAQS, APHA.
• Adopt Cradle to Grave approach such as, cleaner Technology- CDM, environmental impact assessments.
• To accept responsibility for services, such as, EcoMark, Ecolabel: Logo an Earthen pot & ISO standards
• Aim to minimize or eliminate Non-Renewable materials
• Promote the use of Renewable materials
• Impose Strict Liability when there is Environmental Damage such as NGT.

Evolution of Policies

• During the pre-independence (colonial) rule, resources were exploited.
• Post-independence, it focussed on eradication of poverty, increase literacy rate, equity and growth.
• In 1972, UNCHE at Stockholm took place
• In the Vlth Five year plan, Environment and Development included

Indian Constitution

• To address the environmental problems, environmental factors were addressed in Indian Constitution.
• Article 48(A) states that the State is responsible for protecting and improving the environment.
• Article 51 A (g) states the Fundamental duties to protect it to all its citizens.

Environmental Policies Dimension

• Social: Quality of Life and Public health
• Economic: Resource management and Biodiversity
• Commitment of an organization -to the laws, regulations (compliance) concerning environmental sustainability

Environmental Policies Examples

• Polluter Pays Principle (PPP)
• Uses of Water: Water Cess, Tax
• Trade Permits: Bioprospecting & Biopiracy, TRIPS & CITES
• Economic Incentives: Carbon Credits (Carbon Emission Trading, CDM, JI)
• Environmental Audit & Environmental Clearance
• Several Bilateral Agreements

International Initiatives

• Important conferences are UNCHE (1972, Stockholm, Sweden), WCED, UNCED (1992, Rio, Brazil), WSSD (Rio+10,2002) JBG, SA & Rio+20 (2012) United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development

UNCHE, Stockholm, 1972

• 113 nations met
• Focused on a common outlook
• Goal to lower the human impact

Stockholm Declaration

• It led to 109 recommendations and 26 principles.

UNCHE, Stockholm Outcome

• The creation of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)
• 5th June was declared as World Environment Day creating an environment fund.

UNEP

• Agency for coordinating environmental activities.
• It assists developing countries to implement policies and practices.
• Headquarters in Nairobi, Kenya
• (UNEP) is a catalyst, advocate, educator to promote sustainable development.
• Two periodicals, TUNZA and Our Planet
• Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) established in 1988

World Commission on Environment and Development (WCED)

• "Environment" is where we all live
• "Development" is what we all do to improve our conditions
• UN called propose long-term strategies for achieving sustainable development by 2000 and beyond.

Brundtland Commission

• WCED, also referred to as the Brundtland Commission, it published a report tilted "Our Common Future"
• Contains perspectives to environmental and development and believes people can build a better prosperous future.
• Guidelines on how to achieve sustainable development
• Report states possibility for economic growth to the one that sustain environmental resource.

Paradigm of Shift

• WCED in its 1987 report "Our Common Future," emphasizes development without destruction.
• "Anti-pollution" efforts to stop and rectify the pollution
• Concept of sustainable development is gained.

WCED

• Outlined three elements of sustainable development which are, environmental protection, economic growth and social equity.
• Concept implies that there are limits such as, technological inadequacies and inequitable social organization.
• View on these inequalities and the problems with the planets development as they need to grow economically that's equitable and sustainable.

Elements based on

• Growth, efficiency, stability
• intra-generation equity
• basic needs/livelihoods
• incidence of impacts
• valuation/internalization

2030 Agenda

• Global Sustainable Development goals were decided during The Heads of State and Government and High Representatives
• Agenda is a plan of action for people, planets, and prosperity
• The 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are a call to end poverty

UNCED Rio De Janeiro, 1992

• The United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED),
• A major conference was held at Rio De Janeiro

Earth Summit Important Outcomes

• Rio Declaration on Environment and Development, Agenda 21, and Forest Principles all came out of this
• Convention on Biological Diversity
• UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)
• Commission on Sustainable Development (CSD) was established

Principles

• The Declaration established environmentally sound principles
• Principle 7 - common but differentiated responsibilities
• Principle 15 - precautionary approach

Agenda 21

• Comprehensive program and be taken globally, nationally by The UN system, governments, and Organization.

Agenda Dimensions

• Dimensions in terms of accelerating sustainable development
• Conserving and managing resources
• Strengthening the role of major groups
• What means to implement it

UNCCD & Desertification

• Means land degradation in arid areas due to various factors
• Desertification is a major economic, social and environmental problem
• Objective is to combat desertification

WSSD, Johannesburg, 2002

• Discussed at South Africa
• Held ten-year review was to hold a ten-year review of the 1992 UNCED
• Discussed the goal and the commitments of development

Rio+20

• United Nations Conference with the goal to promote sustainability
• The importance to have jobs and Administration that can protect the environment
• Energy is crucial to the environment
• Cities service centers for business, culture, and infrastructure