law

Question 2

What does environmental law encompass?

Answer 2

Regulations and statutes governing the interaction between humans and the environment, aiming to protect natural resources and public health.

Question 3

What are key areas of environmental law?

Answer 3

• Pollution control
• Waste management
• Biodiversity conservation
• Climate change mitigation

Question 4

What influences the legal framework of environmental law?

Answer 4

International treaties, national legislation, and local regulations.

Question 5

What is Common Law?

Answer 5

Developed through judicial precedents, allowing flexibility and adaptation in legal interpretations.

Question 6

What is Statute Law?

Answer 6

Formulated by Parliament, providing a formalized structure for legal obligations and rights.

Question 7

What is Civil Law?

Answer 7

Focuses on resolving disputes between individuals or organizations, emphasizing individual rights and duties.

Question 8

What is Criminal Law?

Answer 8

Establishes societal norms and penalties for violations, focusing on public order and safety.

Question 9

What are the steps of becoming an Act?

Answer 9

• First reading
• Second reading
• Committee stage
• Third reading
• Other house (Lords)
• Royal assent

Question 10

What does Primary Legislation refer to?

Answer 10

Acts of Parliament that establish broad legal principles.

Question 11

What is Secondary Legislation?

Answer 11

Detailed regulations that provide specific instructions for implementing primary legislation.

Question 12

What is Tertiary Legislation?

Answer 12

Guidance documents and codes of practice that help interpret and apply laws.

Question 13

What penalties can result from serious environmental offences?

Answer 13

Fines and imprisonment for individuals or organizations.

Question 14

What are Fixed Penalty Notices?

Answer 14

Issued for minor breaches, allowing for quick resolution without court proceedings.

Question 15

What is the role of the Supreme Court in environmental law?

Answer 15

Acts as the final court of appeal for civil and criminal cases, including environmental law disputes.

Question 16

What is the Environmental Protection Act 1990?

Answer 16

Provides the first legally accepted definition of ‘the environment’ in UK law.

Question 17

What does ISO 14001:2015 define?

Answer 17

Defines the environment as the surroundings in which an organization operates, including natural resources and human interactions.

Question 18

What is the definition of Sustainable Development?

Answer 18

Development that meets present needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.

Question 19

What does the Polluter Pays Principle entail?

Answer 19

Those responsible for pollution should bear the costs of cleanup and mitigation.

Question 20

What is Extended Producer Responsibility?

Answer 20

Extends the producer’s responsibility for a product throughout its life cycle, including recovery and recycling.

Question 21

What is the Precautionary Principle?

Answer 21

Advises taking preventive action in the face of uncertainty regarding environmental harm.

Question 22

What are the four priority areas of the Environment Act 2021?

Answer 22

• Waste and resource efficiency
• Air quality
• Water
• Nature and biodiversity

Question 23

What is the definition of Waste according to the European Waste Framework Directive?

Answer 23

Any substance or object that the holder discards, intends to discard, or is required to discard.

Question 24

What is Controlled Waste?

Answer 24

Waste categorized into household, industrial, or commercial types as per the Controlled Waste (England and Wales) Regulations 2012.

Question 25

What does the Waste Hierarchy prioritize?

Answer 25

Waste prevention and recycling over disposal.

Question 26

What is the Duty of Care in waste management?

Answer 26

Imposes a duty on all companies and individuals involved in the waste chain to ensure responsible practices.

Question 27

What are the Waste Separation Requirements?

Answer 27

* Residual (non-recyclable) waste * Food waste * Paper and card * All other dry recyclable materials (plastic, metal, glass)

Question 28

What is Hazardous Waste?

Answer 28

Materials that are toxic and dangerous to human health and the environment.

Question 29

What does the Water Resources Act 1991 regulate?

Answer 29

Water management, conservation, and licensing of water abstraction activities.

Question 30

What is the purpose of the Water Industry Act 1991?

Answer 30

Established a regulatory framework for privatized water supply and sewerage.

Question 31

What are the key elements of the Environment Act 1995?

Answer 31

Empowered the Environment Agency to enforce regulations and manage water pollution incidents.

Question 32

What is the significance of the case Alphacell Ltd v Woodward (1972)?

Answer 32

Established strict liability for pollution, emphasizing compliance regardless of intent.

Question 33

What does the EU Water Framework Directive aim for?

Answer 33

Sustainable management of Europe’s water resources, requiring river basin management plans.

Question 34

What is the goal of Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 6?

Answer 34

Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all by 2030.

Question 35

What does Ofwat set for water services?

Answer 35

Price limits balancing consumer interests and financial viability of water companies.

Question 36

What must businesses producing trade effluent comply with?

Answer 36

Specific conditions outlined in their discharge consents regulated by Ofwat.

Question 37

What can happen if a business does not comply with trade effluent consents?

Answer 37

Enforcement actions by regulatory authorities.

Question 38

What powers does Section 108 of the Environment Act 1995 grant the Environment Agency?

Answer 38

Inspect, sample, and enforce compliance with water quality regulations.

Question 39

What are enforcement undertakings?

Answer 39

Agreements allowing offenders to rectify harm without prosecution.

Question 40

What authority does the Environment Agency have regarding pollution incidents?

Answer 40

The authority to prosecute offenders and recover costs.

Question 41

What do the Environmental Permitting Regulations establish?

Answer 41

A unified permitting process for various activities.

Question 42

What was combined in the 2016 Environmental Permitting Regulations?

Answer 42

Several previous permitting regimes.

Question 43

What must water companies develop under the Environment Act 2021?

Answer 43

Water Resource Management Plans for sustainable management.

Question 44

What do Lead Local Flood Authorities (LLFAs) manage?

Answer 44

Flood risks from surface water, groundwater, and ordinary watercourses.

Question 45

What types of flooding do LLFAs manage?

Answer 45

* Surface Water Flooding * Groundwater Flooding * Ordinary Watercourses * Reservoir Flooding * Sea Flooding

Question 46

What is the aim of enforcement undertakings?

Answer 46

Restore environmental conditions and prevent future violations.

Question 47

What are some benefits of enforcement undertakings?

Answer 47

* Quicker resolution compared to court cases * Flexibility in addressing environmental harm

Question 48

What is a key concern regarding enforcement undertakings?

Answer 48

Effectiveness in deterring future offenses.

Question 49

What do stormwater overflows prevent?

Answer 49

Sewer systems from being overwhelmed during heavy rainfall.

Question 50

What must water companies develop regarding storm overflow management?

Answer 50

Long-term Drainage and Sewerage Management Plans (DSMPs).

Question 51

What does the Climate Change Act 2008 establish?

Answer 51

A framework for the UK to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Question 52

What does 'net zero' refer to?

Answer 52

Balancing emissions produced with equivalent offsets.

Question 53

What is the role of the Climate Change Committee (CCC)?

Answer 53

Advise the UK government on emissions targets and report on progress.

Question 54

What does the CCC's 2024 Progress Report emphasize?

Answer 54

Urgency of action and need for rapid implementation of policies.

Question 55

What is the Great British Energy initiative's aim?

Answer 55

Establish a publicly owned clean energy company.

Question 56

What financial aspect does the Great British Energy initiative involve?

Answer 56

Projected cost of £8.3 billion funded partly by closing oil and gas windfall tax loopholes.

Question 57

What are some key international climate agreements?

Answer 57

* UN Vienna Convention for the Protection of the Ozone Layer (1985) * Montreal Protocol (1987) * UN Convention on Climate Change (1992) * Kyoto Protocol (1997) * Paris Agreement (2015)

Question 58

What is the Global Goal on Adaptation (GGA)?

Answer 58

Targets to enhance resilience against climate change effects globally.

Question 59

What is a significant challenge in storm overflow management?

Answer 59

Complete elimination of storm overflows due to aging infrastructure.

Question 60

What does the 25 Year Environment Plan aim to achieve?

Answer 60

Improve UK waters to near-natural states.

Question 61

What do Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) relate to?

Answer 61

Commitments submitted every five years by countries under the Paris Agreement.

Question 62

What is a concern regarding the UK’s Third National Adaptation Programme?

Answer 62

Lack of necessary pace and ambition to address climate risks.

Question 63

What is the aim of the Environment Improvement Plan?

Answer 63

Outline specific targets to address pollution from various sources.

Question 64

What is a challenge of climate change legislation?

Answer 64

Balancing economic development with environmental protection.

Question 65

What does the CCC identify as a priority for decarbonisation?

Answer 65

Public sector buildings.

Question 66

What is the aim of the Fund for responding to Loss and Damage (FRLD)?

Answer 66

Assist developing countries vulnerable to climate impacts.

Question 67

What are some challenges of climate change?

Answer 67

* Complexity of monitoring pollution sources * Need for comprehensive international agreements * Balancing human needs with environmental regulation