Environmental Principles Flashcards
(12 cards)
What is the first legally accepted definition of ‘the environment’ in UK law and state the full name and year of that legislation
- “all, or any, of the following media, namely, the air, water and land”
- Environmental Protection Act 1990
This definition establishes the basic components of the environment as recognized by law.
Define sustainable development
- Development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs (Brundtland Definition, 1978)
- Principle adopted in international policy making in the Rio Declaration – United Nations ‘Rio Earth Summit’ 1992 (United Nations Conference on Environment and Development)
This principle aims to balance economic growth with environmental protection.
What is the Polluter Pays Principle?
Those responsible for causing pollution will meet the clean-up and mitigation costs
This principle was established after the Alphacell v Woodward case and introduced strict liability for pollution.
What does the Producer Responsibility principle entail?
Life-cycle extension of polluter pays principle
It emphasizes the responsibility of producers in waste management policies.
What is Extended Producer Responsibility?
Full Life-cycle extension of Producer Responsibility
Producers are responsible for the recovery of a product at the end of its life.
Define 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
This principle encourages proactive measures even when scientific evidence is incomplete.
What is the Preventative Principle?
Application of BAT (best available technique) to prevent environmental harm
What does the Substitution Principle involve?
The replacement of hazardous substances or processes with other less harmful substances or processes
This principle aims to reduce risk by choosing safer alternatives.
What is the Proximity Principle?
Waste should be managed as near as possible to the place of production to limit transportation impacts
What does the Public Participation Principle encourage?
Informed public participation in environmental decision making
It is crucial in planning, Environmental Impact Assessments (EIA), and sustainable development.
What is the Principle of Integration?
Environmental protection requirements must be integrated into the definition and implementation of all areas of policy
This principle promotes sustainable development across various policy areas.
Name the case that the polluter pays principle was derived from and what it led to
- Alphacell v Woodward case in 1972
- Led to ‘Strict Liability’ in any releases from an organisation into ‘controlled waters’
