The Environmental Policy becomes more and more necessary to be able to somehow redeem the damage caused by many years to the environment. All of them must be based on the sustainable development of nations through clear objectives set for the short, medium and long term. Here we present plans, regulations, instruments and much more.
Environmental politics
The Environmental Policy is a set of measures that nations consider to reduce pollution levels and in turn protect and preserve the environment. The primary objective is to create a conservative conscience in the short, medium and long term by both public and private entities, including ordinary individuals. These actions have been taken by the different governments in alliance with international organizations, allowing the establishment of legal regulations that through laws, decrees, regulations and other legal instruments guarantee their due compliance in favor of natural elements.
General principles
The environmental policy is aimed at improving and caring for the environment, raising the quality of life of human beings, preserving fauna and flora, in addition to promoting a sustainable culture through well-defined strategies to deal with this serious scourge. There have been many efforts, although not enough, by the United Nations Organization (UN), which has a specialized commission called UNEP (United Nations Environment Program) that deals with everything related to the environment and assess damage at the global, national and regional levels.
The principles of environmental policy are the rules that are established based on responsibility, morality and precaution that allow sustainable development, that is, meeting needs without compromising the environment or social welfare. Among the most outstanding principles is the responsibility that is needed to jointly improve the conditions of the environment. Prevention to avoid possible ecological disasters.
The substitution of toxic substances for others of natural origin that are less or not at all polluting. The obligation to pay for the damage caused. Coherence in the norms established in conjunction with other organizations that allow unifying actions. To achieve all these proposals, it is necessary to have the cooperation that makes possible the work for common objectives. All these principles require constant evaluation for decision making.
How should the Environmental Policy be?
Environmental policies must be adopted as part of a commitment to natural resources. This is achieved through documents that clearly and precisely establish the regulations by which companies and government agencies will be governed. These policies in their most generalized sense are the laws and regulations of environmental management, which must seek to minimize the impact of any activity that is carried out. Treatment of solid waste and sewage.
Take recycling and reuse as an essential point of the new sustainable model, to give it the same or a new use, thus avoiding the excessive production of garbage. Prevent environmental risks through specialized studies and finally audit compliance with what is established.
Environmental Policy Instruments
For the application of environmental policy, it is necessary to have a series of legal instruments such as laws, decrees, and regulations related to the environment at the local, regional, national, and international levels. Likewise, administrative regulations must be established to evaluate, control and regulate the application of said policies. Among the most frequently used instruments are:
The Regulation
These are the standards used to regulate activities that may have a negative impact on the environment. Through it, it is intended to encourage the rational use of resources, respect for the environment and improve the quality of life. Likewise, establish measures that regulate activities that involve the emission of harmful substances, use of chemical and radioactive products, controlling their use and pollution levels.
Financial Incentives
Motivation is a form of persuasion that is used to encourage and encourage companies or people to change behavior patterns and act in a conscientious manner with respect to the use of natural resources. This can be done through subsidies or other forms of incentives such as tax rebates. However, fines, penalties or levies can also be applied for bad practice, employment or emissions that go against the natural elements.
Environmental Reports
All environmental policies must establish evaluation mechanisms carried out by specialists in the area. Therefore, the importance of making reports that specify the cost-benefit so that good decision-making can be generated. This document is necessary when establishing companies, building housing or roads, large infrastructures, among many others.
Ecolabelling
It is an environmental policy that consists of labeling products indicating their environmental performance, which is usually done through images. These forms are based on the ISO Norms (International Organization for Standardization) International Organization for Standardization, in this case number 14000, used in order to control the environmental impact.
In many countries, labels are used so that the consumer can know accurate information about the components and possible effects on the environment. These labels are also used as part of advertising strategies, since they highlight aspects related to safety and preservation of the environment.
The negotiable permits
Industries related to mining, deforestation, hydrocarbon exploitation or industries related to chemicals and food require special permits that must be regulated within the environmental policy. Being that these companies are of great need but are directly responsible for environmental deterioration. For these reasons, permits must be established in which the ways of compensating for the damage caused are negotiated. It should be noted that most companies that work under responsibility schemes establish their own standards for environmental protection and preservation.
Application of the ISO 14001 Standard
The environmental policy applied through the ISO 14000 standard, which is a set of standards that covers aspects of the environment, products and organizations. In the case of ISO 14001, it establishes the international environmental management standards, which were published in 1996. These standards are intended to implement, maintain and enforce everything related to the environment, such as: establishing the context of operations and the environmental impact that may be generated by its activity.
Likewise, this rule establishes environmental objectives as a form of compensation for possible damage caused. The commitment to protection regarding the reasonable use of resources, protection of the ecosystem and biodiversity. It also establishes legal commitments based on environmental management. All these rules must be made generally known to all those who perform functions in the company.
Examples of Environmental Policy
The environmental policy must be established in each company that exists on the planet, regardless of how small or large it may be, because in some way its activities can impact the environment. Measures such as those listed below can be applied for the benefit of a pollution-free planet.
- Mitigate the use of fossil fuel by changing it to the use of electrical energy.
- Regularly use recycled paper.
- Make technology useful to avoid the excessive use of ink and paper.
- Educate, inform and motivate staff through strategies for green practices.
- Try as much as possible to reduce the environmental impact with the use of air conditioning, electricity, water and heating.
United Nations Climate Change Summits
The Nations, in view of the progressive and accelerated increase in the level of pollution on the planet, have seen the need to jointly regulate environmental policies applicable to companies whose activity may negatively impact the environment. For this, the member countries of the UN (United Nations Organization) have held summits on climate change, reaching agreements to regulate everything related to environmental matters.
This has resulted in the implementation of some treaties such as the "Kyoto Protocol" which in 1997 established the reduction of emissions of the six gases that cause the greenhouse effect such as carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide , hydrofluorocarbon, perfluorocarbon and hexafluorocarbon sulfur, which turn out to be the main responsible for global warming. This treaty is signed by 83 countries and in the 2001 convention the agreement of 180 countries was achieved.
On the other hand, the "Paris Agreement" agreed in 2015, which entered into force on November 4, 2016, establishes the fight against climate change, seeking to avoid an increase of 2ºC in the average global temperature of the planet. This agreement is based on sustainable development, which will be executed in 2020. In 2019, a summit was held to deal with issues related to the climate emergency and the reduction of CO2 emissions (this agreement has not yet been executed due to lack of agreement).
Agenda for the year 2030
For the year 2030, it is intended to establish global objectives that are based on sustainable development, protection of the environment and mitigation of climate change. The objectives set for this date are: to guarantee the availability of water and its sustainable management. That access to energy is affordable, safe, sustainable and modern. Likewise, changes in consumption and production modalities will be established, as well as establishing urgent measures to combat climate change and its effects.
It is also intended to establish measures to conserve and use the oceans, seas and their marine resources in favor of sustainable development. Implement measures that help protect, restore and promote the use of terrestrial ecosystems. Likewise, it is intended to establish sustainable regulations for forests, avoid desertification, interrupt and reverse land degradation and stop the loss of biological diversity.
Environmental Policy Issues
Environmental policy brings with it a number of problems that affect its proper implementation, such as the interconnectedness of the political sector. In this case, infrastructure, the economy, politics, and territorial planning converge with environmental policies and their goals. To achieve these objectives successfully, interdisciplinary work is necessary, as well as the ability to prioritize these interests over other sectors.
On the other hand, there are the problems of a political sector focused on long-term outcomes, as decisions, programs, and projects require time to show results. These problems are exacerbated when these programs are used as part of political campaigns, which has become a real problem worldwide. Finally, there are the problems of multi-level politics, as environmental problems exist at the local, regional, and global levels, requiring international solutions and agreements. This adds another layer of complexity, since reaching consensus among nations is no easy task.
Environmental Policy in Mexico
Mexico is considered one of the most polluted cities in the world. By the 80s, the application of environmental policies began, since the levels of environmental degradation, which were already high by then, were beginning to be of public and political interest. This process was very ethereal in terms of application, which was based on the Federal Law to Prevent and Control Environmental Pollution that was approved in 1971.
This initiative took place due to a series of natural catastrophes that the country experienced and others of an industrial nature that generated environmental and social consequences, due to the productive model that had been adopted. In 1983, the Secretariat for Urban Development and Ecology, SEDUE, was created with the aim of applying new measures that would help mitigate the consequences of the development that was being implemented.
With the passing of the years and the growing environmental pollution of which the territory has been a victim, it has been necessary to implement new laws to address ecological issues. It should be noted that in Mexico there are a large number of problems such as: uncontrolled deforestation, excessive use and therefore polluting water, species in danger of extinction, excessive production of garbage and toxic waste, breaches of health standards and environmental protection. environment and the most serious of all an excess of air pollution.
Environmental Plans and Legal Instruments
In Mexico, there are a large number of laws and regulations that serve to regulate industrial activity and preserve the environment, such as: the General Law on Climate Change, the Law on Ecological Balance and Environmental Protection, the General Law on Wildlife and the Sustainable Rural Development Law. All of them are created with the sole purpose of controlling and achieving an adequate distribution of natural resources. These instruments are used to control actions and practices that may have a negative impact on the environment, in any of its forms and modalities.
Mexico Environmental Policy
Environmental policy in Mexico has been based in recent years on the supposed sustainable development, which has not been achieved despite the number of institutions, laws and programs implemented. It should be noted that even the Mexican Constitution establishes in article 4 that all citizens must enjoy a healthy environment free of impurities.
General Law of Ecological Balance and Environmental Protection
The set of laws, rules and regulations established as part of Mexico's environmental policy, establish in its most general sense aspects such as the protection of natural environments, control of damage that could be generated to natural elements (air, water , soil), disposal and control of toxic waste, identification of sources of contamination, as well as transgressors of regulations that cause damage to biodiversity.
There have also been 31 state laws and five regulations that implement the evaluation of environmental impact, emissions caused by vehicles and industries, as well as the transport of toxic waste.
Environmental Policy in Colombia
Colombia is a country with a high level of pollution, which is why it has been seen for a few decades, in the need to create and implement laws that regulate activities that negatively impact the environment. In 1974, the National Code of Natural Resources was created, for the protection of the environment, and in 1989 the National Forest Service was established, which gave way to the National Forest Development Plan, as well as other norms and regulations for the application of strategies that mitigate environmental damage.
The environmental policy in this country has been based on sustainable development, under provisions such as Law 99 of 1993. Subsequently, the Ministry of the Environment was created to give it greater preponderance together with autonomous corporations and five institutes. All this in order to regulate and control the quality of the environment, as well as the rational use of natural resources. This set of principles was established to respond in the short, medium and long term.
Among the general principles of these laws and regulations, is the social and ecological function of companies and natural persons, rational use of natural resources to improve the quality of life, in order to guarantee environmental sustainability.
Basis of Environmental Policy in Colombia
The different policies, rules and regulations established in Colombia to combat environmental damage have sustainable development as their primary basis and for this, resources and therefore biodiversity must be protected and used. The right to enjoy a healthy and productive life that is in harmony with the natural elements. The special protection possessed by moors, water springs and aquifers, prioritizing the latter.
Likewise, important investigations have been carried out to determine the environmental impact and cost that has been suffered in recent years. This has allowed decisions to be made aimed at the conservation of renewable natural resources and protection of the landscape, in which the State, the community and organized civil society are included.
Environmental Policy in Peru
In the particular case of Peru, environmental policy has had to be established since colonial times, since its mining and agricultural activity has had a negative effect since then. Among the first actions that were taken in 1925 was the exhortation to the companies responsible for the application of strategies to reduce the emission of harmful particles into the atmosphere. In the last 40 decades, the national executive has understood that it cannot continue to ignore the growing impact of human activities on the biophysical environment.
For this reason, policies to avoid further degrading the environment are being applied through the ONERN Law (National Office for the Evaluation of Natural Resources), whose main objective lies in the evaluation of natural resources and how they should be used to guarantee their adequate use, for a good economic and social development of the country.
Legal Instruments
The environmental policy in Peru is applied through documents or declarations from national authorities under the figure of the President of the Republic and the Congress. In the case of the sectoral ones, the responsibility lies with the ministries and autonomous institutions directly related to the environmental field, such as the National Environmental Council (CONAM).
In this sense, for 1990 the Code of the Environment and Natural Resources was created, which served to anchor environmental actions that were dispersed and for which the stated objectives could not be achieved. In the 70s, the General Water Law was created together with the Sanitary Code, but without clear guidelines that favored environmental control and preservation. Likewise, the General Mining Law and the Forestry and Wild Fauna Law were enacted.
As a result of these regulations, laws and regulations, the need arose to establish a form of evaluation and for this the National Office for the Evaluation of Natural Resources was created, in which decisions were made regarding the presence of chemical agents in the environments. including work. These evaluations had as characteristics the scope, in which it determined the size and volume of the activities affected, the coverage referred to the proportion of effect, equity since the impact affects everyone equally and the efficiency of the application of the law.
In 1979 the environmental issue was taken into account with a certain priority, which is why it was necessary to include it in the Magna Carta. This law recognized the right of every Peruvian citizen to live in a pollution-free environment, which was ratified in the 1993 constitution.
Creation of the National Environment Council – CONAM
In 1994, the National Environmental Council (CONAM) was created, which through a regulatory body established the general principles based on environmental management. These policies managed to establish clear strategies associated with a sustainable model, together with initiatives aimed at the private sector, allowing a process to be conducted through concrete, prioritizing and well-defined actions to establish the bases in the short, medium and long term.
In this sense, this organization proposed a strategic environmental model for the country to promote and develop a sustainable and balanced system between the social and the economic, using natural resources rationally, which translates as environmental conservation. This organization does not have as a principle to concentrate conservative action only on regulation and control. Its goal is to establish successful experiences to be included in policies while evaluating the performance of the different sectors, mainly the private sector.
Creation of the Ministry of the Environment
Ministry of the Environment and Renewable Natural Resources was proposed in 1981, which was not carried out. Instead, a Code was approved with a series of regulations to preserve the environment and its resources. By 1985 the National Council for the Protection of the Environment for Health CONAPMAS, currently called NAPMAS. It was intended to synthesize the actions to be followed by both government and private entities for technical cooperation, investment and strengthening of environmental preservation.
For the year 2008, the Ministry was founded through a decree issued by the legislative power, with the mission of supervising and executing all national and sectoral policies related to the environment.
Foundations of Environmental Policy in Peru
Peru's environmental policy is based on its great natural heritage. This is among the 15 most biologically diverse countries in the world. It is the ninth in forest reserve, since it has 66 million hectares of forests, it also ranks fourth in tropical forests, crediting it with 13% of the Amazon forests. This is why the development of extractive, productive and service activities must be strictly regulated for adequate environmental management.
All these characteristics make it necessary to establish standards that allow its preservation and use, achieving a truly sustainable and quality development. For this, socio-economic activities must be carried out based on the criteria of preservation and respect for nature. For this, it is proposed to promote the conservation of the diversity of ecosystems, promote interest in research for the conservation of native and naturalized genetic resources. Likewise, it seeks to promote biosafety, that is, regulation of the use of living modified organisms.
Other fundamentals of these policies is the use of renewable and non-renewable resources with a rational and sustainable approach. On the other hand, it raises the use of mineral resources. Likewise, the preservation of forests, marine and coastal ecosystems is suggested. Preserve watersheds and soils through regulations concerning the treatment of liquid and solid waste. Regulate development territorial development under the conservationist approach.
Fun facts
Did you know that in the last 35 years the planet has lost a third of its wildlife? To produce one ton of paper, 17 large trees have to be cut down. During the last century, global temperature and sea levels have risen more rapidly than ever before in Earth's history. Cell phone batteries contain heavy metals that are highly polluting to the environment if they are not recycled or properly disposed of. The Great Barrier Reef in Australia is the largest living structure on the planet and is at risk due to warming waters.
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