Unit 6:A- Principles of Environmental Policy decisions

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What is the meaning of environmental policy?

Environmental policy is primarily concerned with how to govern the relationship between humans and the natural environment in a mutually beneficial manner. Traditionally, it has been defined in terms of the problems it addressed, such as controlling pollution and waste flows and limiting habitat loss. However, policy makers have begun to appreciate that environmental policy will only be genuinely successful when it is sensitively integrated with other sectors and policy areas. Politically speaking, ‘environmental policy integration’ represents a new but potentially difficult stage in the continuing metamorphosis of environmental policy into a much wider policy supporting sustainable human development.

What is environmental policy in India?

Can be classified as List of laws. Formalization of national parks, wildlife sanctuaries, conservation reserves and community reserves. Protection to habitat and wildlife within premises of such protected areas. Development of National Board for Wildlife and State Boards for Wildlife for identification of future protected areas.

India is one of the parties of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) treaty. Prior to the CBD, India had different laws to govern the environment. The Indian Wildlife Protection Act 1972 protected the biodiversity. It was amended later multiple times. The 1988 National Forest Policy had conservation as its fundamental principle. In addition to these acts, the government passed the Environment (Protection) Act 1986 and Foreign Trade (Development and Regulation) Act 1992 for control of biodiversity.

Environment policies of the Government of India includes legislations related to environment.

In the Directive Principles of State Policy - 

Article 48A says "the state shall endeavor to protect and improve the environment and to safeguard the forests and wildlife of the country"

Article 51-A states that "it shall be the duty of every citizen of India to protect and improve the natural environment including forests, lakes, rivers and wildlife and to have compassion for living creatures."

What are the four principles of environmental policy development?

 Environmental law and policy is based on four core environmental principles contained in Article 191(2) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU): the precautionary, prevention, rectification at source, and polluter pays principles.

The precautionary principle:

Where there is uncertainty about the risk of environmental harm, the precautionary principle allows protective measures to be taken without having to wait until the harm materialises.

This principle is valuable in managing risk where there is uncertainty about the environmental impact of an issue.

The prevention principle:

This principle requires preventive measures be taken to anticipate and avoid environmental damage before it happens. It is central to the UK’s planning policy and underlies lots of environmental legislation.

Environmental damage should be rectified at source:

Working alongside the prevention principle, this ensures damage or pollution is dealt with where it occurs. It operates in many areas of UK environmental policy to prioritise the way environmental damage is addressed.

The polluter pays principle:

As the name suggests this principle holds that the person who causes pollution should bear the costs of the damage caused and any remedy required. It plays a significant role in environmental management, acting as a deterrent and directing accountability for harm.