Environmental Principles W1L2 Flashcards
What is the Environmental Protection Agency’s definition of the environment? Inc 1 critique
“all, or any, of the following media, namely, the air, the water and land”
Ignores the human element
What is the ISO 14001 definition (2015)
“surroundings in which an organisation operates, including, air, water, land, natural resources, flora, fauna, humans and their interrelationships”
Why should the environment be protected in policy?
Complex issue, people need guidance to help
need international/national consensus
helps human health
moral reasons
need local controls to address global problems
What is the Brundtland definition of Sustainable Development?
“Development that meets the need of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs”
What is the polluter pays principle?
Those responsible for causing pollution will meet the clean-up and mitigation costs
What is producer responsibility?
Life-cycle extension of polluter pays principle, you are responsible for any products you produce throughout its whole life
Basis of packaging, WEEE legislation
What is the precautionary principle?
‘where there are threats of serious or irreversible damage, lack of full scientific certainty shall not be used as a reason for postponing cost-effective measures to prevent environmental degradation’ (European Commission, 2000)
(climate change) not full scientific clarity of it occuring
What is the preventative principle?
Similar to the precautionary principle
Application of BAT to prevent environmental harm
(BAT = Best available technique)
Full scientific clarity available so it MUST be prevented
What is the substitution principle?
The replacement of hazardous substances or processes with other less harmful substances or processes
‘substitute’
What is the proximity principle?
Waste should be managed as near as possible to the place of production
To limit the transportation impacts from transportation of waste for treatment or disposal
What is the public participation principle?
Encourages informed public participation in environmental decision making
Especially important in planning and EIA
What is the principle of integration?
‘Environmental protection requirements must be integrated into the definition and implementation of all areas of policy in particular with a view to promoting sustainable development’ (EC Treaty, Article 6)
! All EC policy must promote SD !
