Enviromental Policies

Question 1

Reasons

Answer 1

• public concern about environmental degradation
• brundtland report 1987 and Rio Earth summit 1992: sustainable development
• Global warming because of CO” emission –> kyoto protocol obliges EU to reduction
• hole in Ozone layer
• Pollution does not respect frontiers
• limited natural resources
• limited capacity of the earth (soil, water, air to absorb waste)
• Different national levels of environmental protection -> unfair competition

Question 2

Principles

Answer 2

• Prevention better than cure
• Environmental effect shall be considered the earliest possible
• exploitation of nature shall be avoided
• scientific knowledge shall be improved
• polluter pay
• Environmental damages shouldn’t affect other member states
• interest of developing country must be considered
• EU and MS shall act together
• education of citizens
• action at the appropriate level (local, re, na, EU, world)
• coordination in EU without impeding progress on national level

Question 3

Mesures

Answer 3

Guidelines

• EU legislation to set environmental standards
• Market based instruments providing incentive to reduce negative effects on environment
• voluntary agreements (e.g. environmental management)

Question 4

Guidelines for MS

Answer 4

-Increase awareness of environmental problems
-conduct environmental impact studies
-reduce pollution
-improve waste management
-preventing rather than correcting damage
-taking account of climate change
-preserving nature and biodiversity
-Preserving environmental and health
-Better management of natural resources and waste
2013-2020
-protect nature and strengthen ecological resilience
-Boost sustainable resources efficient low carbon growth
-enhance the sustainability of EU cities
-improve addressing regional and global challenges related to the environment and climate change

Question 5

EU environnemental legislation

Answer 5

Limit on:

• air quality
• noise level
• water quality
• waste and chemicals
• recovery and recycling of packaging waste

Question 6

market based instrument

Answer 6

emission right for companies –> they are getting stricter

Question 7

Environmental Management and Audit scheme

Answer 7

Voluntary participation (evaluation and external audits of environmental performance, implement environmental protection schemes ..)

why: better image, possibility reduced costs

Question 8

Kyoto protocol

Answer 8

set target on reduction of emission

Countries must meet their targets primarily through national measures.

Kyoto protocol offers a additional means of meeting their targets: three market based mechanism

Greenhouse gas emission –> countries get levels of allowed emission. country with excess capacity, can sell this capacity to counties that are over their targets.

Clan development mechanism –> you do the gas reduction in developing country (less costly do to that there)

Joint implementation –> you do gas reduction in other developed country