Environmental policy

Environmental policy is the measures to be taken to preserve the resources necessary for survival, which are the responsibility of individuals, institutions, companies and governments . The environment is the whole living environment, i.e. the whole set of factors (physical, cultural, economic and social) that surround us, as well as the interactions between them. The environment is the basis for ensuring human survival and the most important point to bear in mind is that it affects future generations.

The main objective of environmental policies is to encourage the different organisms of society to look towards a planet as green as possible and for this, there are different instruments.

United Nations organization and the environment

The United Nations, also known as the UN, is "an international organisation (only sovereign states can join), open (the requirements for states to become members are flexible), universal (states from any continent can join) and general in its competence"(Rial, J. A. 2012).

The UN's first concerns about the environment came to the surface in June 1992 (from day 3 to 14), when 172 governments met in Rio de Janeiro for the so-called "Rio Declaration on Environment and Development"; it was also known as the "Earth Summit". This summit sought to "establish a new and equitable global partnership by creating new levels of cooperation among States [...] seeking to reach international agreements that respect the interests of all and protect the integrity of the global environmental and developmental system" ( Río, O. L. D. 1992). The declaration was made up of 27 principles and was to be taken as a reference for the next summit, the fulfilment of Agenda 21, a programme that brought together the established objectives .

The UN continued to build its way forward 10 years later with the call to member states to the World Summit on Sustainable Development, held in Johannesburg, South Africa. "The Summit represented the culmination of the ten-year comprehensive review of progress on sustainable development" (de la Salud, A. M. 2002).

On the occasion of the passing of two decades after the well-known "Earth Summit", the "Rio+20" summit was held once again in Rio de Janeiro. The results were not as expected, at least the foundations of the agreements we have today were laid, but as Eduardo Lopez said "the logic that it was preferable to have any agreement than no agreement at all" prevailed. And it came to be known in the words of Barbara Stocking as "the summit of deception" (López, E. 2012).

Current environmental policy in the EU

Climate change has been leaving its mark on the environment for decades and as mentioned above, this has led to the adoption of an environmental policy, to protect and extend the life of the world we live in. Therefore, the European Union has created different strategies and plans in the various congresses held to try to find a solution to the problem. The Maastricht agreement, first and later the Amsterdam agreement established a turning point by placing development and environment in the same direction and pointing out that they were complementary to each other.

Currently, the last General Assembly of the European Union culminated in 2020 with the title "European green deal: our for the future". At this conference in Berlin, the problems that society faces if the corresponding measures are not taken and the importance of the 2030 Agenda, established in 2015 by the members of the United Nations Organisation, were underlined. The new agenda is made up of 17 goals and creates three new dimensions: economic prosperity or profit, social equality and environmental sustainability.

On the other hand, to complement the European Green Pact and focus more specifically on environmental policy, in 2021 the eighth environmental action programme (which began in the 1970s) was signed, which will also have a target date of 2030 and will be reviewed regularly to analyse both progress and problems in 2024. Six objectives are prioritised, always to help our planet:

1. Reduce greenhouse gas emissions to zero to tackle climate change.
2. To create steady growth in a common welfare society and economy.
3. Support green energy with financial aid, while not financing non-renewable energy sources.
4. Use whatever technology we have at our disposal to collect data and make society aware of the situation.
5. Reduce actions that leave a footprint on our environment.
6. Protect biodiversity.

New plan

Although these initiatives exist on the part of the European Union, each country acts freely within the established limits, taking as a reference what has been previously agreed upon and always as coordinated as possible with the EU. A great example of this is the NextGeneration EU plan. This new plan, which has been developed by the European Union after the effects of the Covid19 pandemic, focuses on the recovery of countries but places great emphasis on the environment. The EU will allocate funds to the member countries and each country will decide on the allocation of these funds taking into account the established guidelines. The main pillars of these funds are digital and green, so they have been set as minimums.

Tools to cope

If we leave aside the green plans and agreements, we can see that the governments of each country use other instruments in the fight against climate change. For example, regulation. What does this consist of? The government is in charge of monitoring and enforcing the measures it puts in place, which can be such as regulating gas emissions from industry, controlling discharges that pollute rivers or banning the use of substances that harm the environment. A clear example is a measure taken by the Community of Madrid in Spain to allow only cars with the B, C, cero and eco labels to circulate in the city centre, thus regulating pollution in the city centre. This regulation has resulted in people using public transport more often, mostly to get to work and to encourage the use of bicycles and walking, contributing to the health of citizens (Gil, A. 2020) .

Another instrument is environmental taxes, whereby each company pays at the end of the month or the end of the year a proportionate share of the amount of pollution it has caused.

Finally, there are tradable emission rights. The government interferes directly, and either for free or for a fee, gives certain industries the right to pollute. After the distribution, the companies will buy and sell the acquired rights depending on how much each one pollutes with its production. If we had to choose one instrument out of all those mentioned, it would be a very difficult task. For the same reason, the above-mentioned instruments are often used together, but in global problems and concerning the importance we have given in this article, plans and agreements stand out among all the others.

Examples of Environmental policy

• Promoting Environmentally Friendly Technologies: Governments can implement policies to encourage the use of renewable energy sources and energy-efficient technologies. This can include providing incentives for companies to switch to renewable energy sources such as wind and solar, providing tax credits for those who install energy-efficient appliances, and providing subsidies for research and development into green technology.
• Establishing Environmental Regulations: Governments can create regulations to protect the environment. These regulations can include setting limits on emissions of pollutants, such as carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases, and setting standards for the disposal of hazardous waste. They can also include setting up monitoring systems to track environmental changes and ensuring that businesses and industries comply with environmental laws.
• Protecting Biodiversity: Governments can create policies to protect endangered species and habitats. This can include setting up protected areas, such as national parks and nature reserves, and creating laws to control hunting and fishing. Governments can also promote sustainable development practices to ensure that resources are used in a way that does not harm the environment.
• Introducing Pollution Tax: Governments can implement taxes on polluting activities to encourage businesses to reduce their emissions. This can include taxes on fuel, energy and industrial emissions, as well as taxes on products that produce pollutants when used, such as cars and electronics.
• Promoting Sustainable Agricultural Practices: Governments can implement policies to encourage sustainable agricultural practices, such as reducing the use of fertilizers, pesticides and herbicides, and promoting the use of organic and locally grown produce. They can also provide incentives for farmers to use water-saving methods and to preserve the soil.

Advantages of Environmental policy

• Environmental policy helps to ensure the sustainability of resources for the future generations. It ensures that the resources for survival, such as water, air, and clean land, will be available for future generations.
• Environmental policy helps to reduce air and water pollution. Regulations can be put in place to reduce emissions from vehicles and factories, as well as to protect water sources from contamination.
• Environmental policy encourages businesses and industries to adopt eco-friendly practices. This includes reducing energy consumption and waste, as well as finding ways to reuse and recycle materials.
• Environmental policy helps to protect biodiversity. Regulations can be put in place to protect endangered species and their habitats, as well as to ensure sustainable management of natural resources.
• Environmental policy helps to create jobs and economic growth. By encouraging green practices, businesses can save money in the long run and use the savings to create jobs and invest in green technologies.
• Environmental policy helps to create a healthier and more livable environment. Regulations can be put in place to reduce noise and light pollution, as well as to protect natural areas from development.

Limitations of Environmental policy

• Environmental policy is limited by an inability to accurately predict the long-term effects of policy on the environment. For example, policy makers may not be able to anticipate future changes in the climate, or the effects of a particular policy on future generations.
• Environmental policy is also limited by a lack of political will to implement policies that could have a positive effect on the environment. For example, governments may be unwilling to introduce taxes or regulations that could reduce emissions or protect natural habitats.
• Environmental policy is limited by a lack of public awareness and understanding of the importance of the environment and the consequences of not taking action. For example, individuals may not be aware of the importance of reducing emissions or conserving resources, and may not have access to the information needed to make informed decisions.
• Environmental policy is limited by a lack of resources and technology to implement effective environmental policies. For example, inadequate funding or lack of technology may make it difficult to implement policies designed to reduce emissions or protect natural habitats.

Other approaches related to Environmental policy

• Sustainable development: This is an approach which seeks to meet the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. It focuses on the balance between economic growth and environmental protection, as well as social justice.
• Ecological economics: This is a field of economics which takes into account the costs and benefits of environmental conservation and pollution control. It also considers the economic benefits of natural resource exploitation and conservation.
• Climate change mitigation: This is a set of policies designed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and slow the rate of climate change. These policies are often enacted through a combination of regulations and incentives.
• Adaptation: This is the process of adjusting to or preparing for the impacts of climate change. It includes proactive measures such as developing new infrastructure and technologies, as well as reactive measures such as emergency preparedness plans.
• Green economy: This is an economic system which emphasizes the use of renewable energy sources, the reuse of resources, and the development of sustainable technologies.

In summary, Environmental policy is a broad and complex issue, with many different approaches that need to be taken into consideration. These include sustainable development, ecological economics, climate change mitigation, adaptation, and the green economy. Each of these approaches has its own set of objectives and strategies, and all of them are necessary for a comprehensive approach to protecting and preserving the environment for future generations.

Footnotes

Environmental policy — recommended articles

Ecologically sustainable development — Sustainable consumption — Green economy — Kyoto convention — Ecological sustainability — Economic sustainability — Examples of opportunities — Carbon budget — Basel convention

References

• Alcidi, C., & Gros, D. (2020). "Next Generation EU: a large common response to the COVID-19 crisis". Intereconomics, 55(4), 202-203.
• Burns, C. J., & Tobin, P. A. (2016). The impact of the economic crisis on European Union environmental policy, "JCMS-journal of common market studies".
• De la Salud, A. M. (2002). Cumbre Mundial sobre el Desarrollo Sostenible: informe de la Secretaría (No. A55/7). Organización Mundial de la Salud, p. 1.
• European Commitment to Higher Education for Sustainable Development (2011), "Copernicus alliance" (201).
• Jensen, T., & Becker, J. (2019). Universities and Agenda 2030: Engaging with the SDGs, "Iau Horizons". Volume 24.
• La declaración del Río sobre el Medio Ambiente y el Desarrollo (1992). Río de Janeiro República Federativa del Brasil, p. 2.
• "Ley 26/2007" (2007), de Responsabilidad Medioambiental, España. 24/10/2007.
• López, E. (2012). La Cumbre de Rio+ 20. Revista Científica de FAREM-Estelí, (3).
• Rial, J. A. (2012). Organización de las Naciones Unidas. España: Derecho Internacional al Desarrollo y Cooperación Internacional.

Author: Iñigo Arin