Environmental Policy | Geography Optional for UPSC (Notes) PDF Download

Introduction to Environmental Policy

Environmental policy refers to the commitment of an organization, such as a government or business, to adhere to laws, regulations, and other mechanisms that address environmental issues. These issues can include air and water pollution, waste management, ecosystem management, protection of natural resources, wildlife conservation, and preservation of endangered species. The primary goal of environmental policies is to manage human activities in a way that prevents or mitigates harm to the environment, natural resources, ecosystems, and human health.

• One of the key aspects of environmental policy is the implementation of eco-energy-oriented policies at a global level to address issues like global warming and climate change. Policies related to energy or regulation of toxic substances, including pesticides and industrial waste, are essential components of environmental policy.
• Environmental policy can be broken down into two main terms: environment and policy. The environment includes not only physical ecosystems but also social (quality of life, health) and economic (resource management, biodiversity) dimensions. Policy, on the other hand, refers to a course of action or principle adopted or proposed by a government, party, business, or individual.
• Governments often need to intervene in environmental matters due to market failures, such as the free-rider problem and the tragedy of the commons. These problems can lead to negative externalities, such as pollution, that impact society as a whole rather than just the individuals or businesses responsible for the pollution.
• Governments use various environmental policy instruments to implement their policies, such as economic incentives, market-based instruments (e.g., taxes, tradable permits, fees), voluntary measures (e.g., bilateral agreements, commitments by firms), and greener public purchasing programs. Often, a mix of different policy instruments is needed to address a specific environmental issue effectively.
• However, it is crucial for governments to formulate their policies carefully so that individual measures complement each other and do not create a rigid, cost-ineffective framework. Overlapping policies can lead to unnecessary administrative costs and increased implementation expenses. Organizations like the OECD Environment Directorate and the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe help governments evaluate and improve their environmental policies by collecting data on policy efficiency and consequences.

Policy Principles for Environmental Protection

1. The Polluter Pays Principle (PPP): Over the past two decades, many economists have advocated for companies that emit pollutants into the environment to be held financially responsible for the environmental harm they cause. The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) has proposed the Polluter Pays Principle (PPP) as a foundation for environmental policies. This principle dictates that when actions are taken to reduce pollution, the costs associated with these measures should be borne by the polluters.
   According to the OECD Council, the Polluter Pays Principle aims to allocate the costs of pollution prevention and control measures in a way that encourages the rational use of limited environmental resources and prevents distortions in international trade and investment. Essentially, this principle asserts that polluters should cover the expenses of pollution abatement without any subsidies.
   In India, the Supreme Court has interpreted the Polluter Pays Principle to mean that polluters are absolutely liable for environmental harm, including compensation for pollution victims as well as the cost of restoring the damaged environment. This encompasses both the environmental and the direct costs to individuals or property. The polluter's responsibility to remediate the damaged environment is part of sustainable development efforts. The implementation of this principle varies depending on specific cases and situations, and it sparked contentious debates during the 1992 Rio Earth Summit, particularly regarding financial assistance from developed to developing countries for addressing environmental degradation.
2. The User Pays Principle (UPP): This principle is considered a subset of the PPP and posits that all users of a resource should pay for the full long-term marginal cost of using that resource and any associated services, including treatment costs. The UPP is applied when resources are being used and consumed.
3. The Precautionary Principle (PP): The primary goal of the precautionary principle is to ensure that substances or activities posing a threat to the environment are prevented from causing harm, even in the absence of definitive scientific evidence linking them to environmental damage. This principle specifically pertains to substances and activities resulting from human intervention.

The Rio Declaration, in Principle 15, emphasizes the importance of the precautionary principle, stating that when there is a risk of severe or irreversible damage, the lack of full scientific certainty should not be used as a justification for delaying cost-effective measures to prevent environmental degradation.

International Policy Instruments to Tackle Global Environmental Externalities
Efforts to address global environmental issues require the use of international policy instruments that lead to cost-effective solutions. Such instruments will only be effective if countries also adopt domestic policies that align with international goals. There are several policy instruments to consider, including international carbon taxes, tradable quotas, and tradable pollution permits.

• International Carbon Tax: An international carbon tax requires countries to agree on a uniform domestic tax rate for greenhouse or carbon emissions. However, this can be challenging due to varying perspectives on global warming and concerns about national sovereignty. An alternative approach is for an international agency to impose a carbon tax on nations, with the revenues allocated among participating countries according to a pre-determined formula. This would require a uniform tax rate for cost-effectiveness but may also necessitate resource transfers to address equity and justice concerns.
• Tradable Quotas: Under an international tradable emission quota scheme, countries are allocated a specific quota for emissions. They are then free to buy and sell quotas on an international exchange market. Time-limited quotas may be necessary due to uncertainty about the extent of the greenhouse problem and to prevent large countries from gaining market power. Tradable quotas would require a market organization for quota trade and the weighing of gases according to their
• Tradable Pollution Permits: Tradable pollution permits can co-exist with domestic permit schemes, allowing countries to meet their emissions targets through taxes or regulatory systems. Governments can issue emission permits to wholesale dealers or producers and importers of fossil fuels and allow them to trade on a domestic permit market. They can also allow permit holders to trade directly in an international market. The distribution of permits to individual firms can be based on historical records ('grandfathering') or government auctions, with the latter generating revenue similar to a domestic tax on emissions.

In conclusion, international policy instruments can play a crucial role in addressing global environmental issues. However, their effectiveness depends on countries adopting compatible domestic policies and ensuring that these instruments are implemented equitably and cost-effectively.

Sustainable Policy Approach to Check Environmental Degradation
Economic growth often poses a threat to the environment, as it puts increased pressure on environmental resources. However, policy makers who prioritize sustainable development will work to ensure that growing economies remain connected to their ecological roots and protect these roots for long-term growth.
Environmental protection is thus an integral part of sustainable development, which aims to prevent the deterioration of natural resources. It highlights the importance of environmental quality and inputs in raising real income and improving the quality of life. Sustainable development is therefore closely linked to economic development and includes various policy measures designed to curb environmental degradation and minimize the costs of economic growth.

• Reducing Poverty: Development projects should be initiated to provide more employment opportunities for the poor. Governments should expand health, family planning services, and education to reach the poor, helping to reduce population growth. Investing in the provision of basic amenities, such as drinking water, sanitation facilities, and alternative housing, will not only improve welfare but also the environment.
• Removing Subsidies: To reduce environmental degradation without additional financial burden on the government, subsidies for the private and public sectors' resource use should be removed. Subsidies on electricity, fertilizers, pesticides, diesel, petrol, gas, and irrigation water usage can lead to wasteful consumption and environmental problems. Eliminating or reducing subsidies will bring both economic and environmental benefits to the country.
• Clarifying and Extending Property Rights: The absence of property rights can result in excessive resource use and environmental degradation. This can lead to overgrazing on public lands, deforestation, and over-exploitation of minerals, fish, and other resources. Clearly defining and assigning ownership and tenure rights to private owners can help address environmental issues.
• Market-Based Approaches: In addition to regulatory measures, there is an urgent need to adopt market-based approaches to protect the environment. These approaches aim to inform consumers and industries about the environmental costs of using natural resources. By reflecting these costs in the prices of goods and services, industries and consumers are encouraged to reduce pollution.
• Regulatory Policies: Regulatory policies can also help reduce environmental degradation. Regulators must make decisions regarding price, quantity, and technology, and choose whether policies should directly or indirectly target environmental problems. Regulatory authorities should impartially apply environmental standards to both public and private sector polluters or resource users.
• Economic Incentives: Like regulatory policies, economic incentives relate to price, quantity, and technology. Incentives are usually in the form of variable fees for resource users based on the amount of pollution generated. Rebates may be given if waste or pollution is less than the established emission standards.
• Trade Policy: Trade policy has domestic and international implications concerning the environment. Domestic trade policy focuses on establishing less polluting industries away from cities and adopting cleaner technologies for polluting industries. As for the relationship between international trade and environmental quality, some argue that liberalized trade can lead to environmental degradation. However, this does not mean that free trade should be halted. Instead, cost-effective policies that optimize externalities should be adopted, and environmental degradation from free trade should be reduced through strict domestic policy measures based on the "polluter pays principle."
• Public Participation: Public awareness and participation can significantly improve environmental conditions. Formal and informal education programs related to environmental management and awareness can help control environmental degradation and maintain a clean environment. For example, eco-labeling of products enables consumers to identify environmentally friendly products. Public participation can also provide cost-effective and useful assistance in afforestation, wildlife conservation, park management, sanitation and drainage system improvements, and flood control.
• Participation in Global Environmental Efforts: Countries are encouraged to follow international conventions and agreements on environmental protection and conservation. Examples include the Montreal Protocol, the Basel Convention, the Rio Declaration on Environment and Development, Agenda 21, and GATT Clauses on Environment. Although not all countries are signatories to these agreements, there is the possibility of trade sanctions against those that do not honor environmental commitments.

Environmental Policy of India

• The Government of India has implemented various environmental policies and legislation to protect and improve the country's environment. These policies are based on the Directive Principles of State Policy, which states in Article 48 that the government should work towards safeguarding the nation's forests, wildlife, and environment, and in Article 51-A, it is the duty of every citizen to contribute to the protection and improvement of the natural environment, including forests, lakes, rivers, and wildlife.
• India is a signatory to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) treaty, which aims to conserve biological diversity, promote sustainable use of its components, and ensure the equitable sharing of benefits arising from genetic resources. Before joining the CBD, India already had several laws in place to govern environmental protection. The Indian Wildlife Protection Act, enacted in 1972, was designed to protect the country's biodiversity and has been amended multiple times since. Additionally, the 1988 National Forest Policy emphasized conservation as its core principle.
• To further strengthen environmental protection, the Indian government passed the Environment (Protection) Act in 1986, which aimed to coordinate different authorities and establish a regulatory framework for environmental management. The Foreign Trade (Development and Regulation) Act, enacted in 1992, was designed to regulate and control biodiversity and its sustainable use.

In summary, India has a solid foundation of environmental policies aimed at protecting and improving the country's environment, biodiversity, and natural resources. These policies are guided by the Directive Principles of State Policy and are supported by various laws and regulations enacted by the government.

Objectives and Strategies of National Environment Policy (2006) of India
The National Environment Policy (2006) of India was introduced to address the need for a comprehensive approach to managing the country's environment, as the existing policies for forests, water, and environmental pollution were found to be insufficient. The policy aims to provide a unified framework for the conservation and sustainable use of environmental resources in India.

The objectives of the National Environment Policy (2006) include:

• Conservation of Critical Environmental Resources: The policy aims to protect and conserve essential environmental resources and invaluable natural and man-made heritage, which are crucial for sustaining life and ensuring the welfare of society.
• Inter-generational Equity: The policy seeks to promote the judicious use of environmental resources to meet the needs and aspirations of both present and future generations.
• Efficiency in Environmental Resources Use: The policy aims to enhance the efficient use of environmental resources by reducing their use per unit of economic output and minimizing the adverse environmental impacts on society.
• Environmental Governance in the Management of Resources: The policy emphasizes the application of good governance principles (transparency, rationality, accountability, cost and time reduction, and public participation) in managing environmental resources.
• Enhancement of Resources: The policy encourages the use of appropriate technology, traditional knowledge, managerial skills, and social capital to conserve and enhance environmental resources.
• Livelihood Security for the Poor: The policy aims to ensure equitable access to environmental resources for poor and tribal communities, who are most dependent on these resources for their livelihoods.
• Integration of Environmental Concerns for Socio-economic Development: The policy seeks to incorporate environmental considerations into policies, plans, programs, and projects for socio-economic development.

In summary, the National Environment Policy (2006) of India provides a holistic approach to managing the country's environment, focusing on conservation, sustainability, efficiency, governance, resource enhancement, livelihood security, and integration of environmental concerns into socio-economic development.

Policy for Pollution Abatement

The following measures will be implemented to control pollution at both local and national levels:

1. Water Pollution

To control water pollution, the following strategies will be employed:

• Encourage the reuse of treated sewage and industrial wastewater before final discharge into water bodies.
• Establish common effluent treatment plants on a cost recovery basis.
• Consider groundwater pollution in the pricing policies of pesticides and fertilizers.
• Develop a plan for regulating the impact of shipbreaking on marine resources.
• Support research and development of low-cost technologies for sewage treatment.
• Foster public-private partnerships for the establishment of effluent and sewage treatment plants.

2. Air Pollution
An action plan for air pollution will include:

• Expediting national programs for spreading the use of improved fuelwood stoves and solar cookers for rural women.
• Offering incentive-based instruments for controlling air pollution.
• Investing in low-pollution mass transport systems through public-private partnerships.
• Empowering local communities and NGOs to monitor environmental compliance and promote the reclamation of wastelands by energy plantations.

3. Noise Pollution
An action plan for noise pollution abatement will involve:

• Setting ambient noise standards based on different environments (e.g., rural versus urban, educational and hospital establishments versus other areas, daytime versus nighttime in residential areas, and areas near rail, road, and airport infrastructure).
• Differentiating between noise standards and protection measures for occupational exposure and environmental exposure to third parties.
• Establishing noise emission norms for loudspeakers, automobile horns, and fireworks, ensuring that exposure levels for non-participants do not exceed prescribed ambient standards.
• Encouraging dialogue between state/local authorities and religious/community representatives to adopt enforceable specific durations and timings for the use of loudspeakers or fireworks.

4. Soil Pollution
An action plan for soil pollution will include:

• Developing and implementing strategies for cleaning up toxic and hazardous waste dumps, particularly in industrial areas, and reclaiming lands for sustainable use.
• Strengthening local bodies' capacities for segregation, recycling, and reuse of municipal solid wastes.
• Implementing strategies for recycling, reuse, and environmentally friendly disposal of plastic wastes, promoting relevant technologies and incentive-based instruments.
• Supporting organic farming of traditional crop varieties through research.
• Establishing transparent, voluntary, and science-based eco-labeling schemes.
• Legally recognizing and strengthening informal sector systems for collecting and recycling various materials.
• Developing public-private partnerships for setting up and operating secure landfills and incinerators for toxic and hazardous wastes, including industrial and biomedical wastes.

Legal Framework
India has several laws addressing environmental pollution, including:

• The Environment Protection Act 1986
• The Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act 1974
• The Water Cess Act 1977
• The Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act 1981

Additionally, laws for the management and conservation of forests and biodiversity include:

• The Indian Forest Act 1927
• The Forest (Conservation) Act 1980
• The Wild Life (Protection) Act 1972
• The Biodiversity Act 2003

Conclusion

In conclusion, environmental policy plays a crucial role in managing human activities to prevent or mitigate harm to the environment, natural resources, ecosystems, and human health. Governments implement various policy instruments and adhere to specific principles like the Polluter Pays Principle and the Precautionary Principle to achieve their environmental goals. International policy instruments and sustainable policy approaches are essential for tackling global environmental issues. India, for instance, has implemented several policies and legislation to protect and improve its environment, emphasizing a holistic approach to managing its resources.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) of Environmental Policy

What is the primary goal of environmental policies?

The primary goal of environmental policies is to manage human activities in a way that prevents or mitigates harm to the environment, natural resources, ecosystems, and human health.

What are some examples of environmental policy instruments used by governments?

Examples of environmental policy instruments include economic incentives, market-based instruments (e.g., taxes, tradable permits, fees), voluntary measures (e.g., bilateral agreements, commitments by firms), and greener public purchasing programs.

What is the Polluter Pays Principle (PPP)?

The Polluter Pays Principle (PPP) is a foundation for environmental policies, which dictates that when actions are taken to reduce pollution, the costs associated with these measures should be borne by the polluters, without any subsidies.

What are the objectives of the National Environment Policy (2006) of India?

The objectives of the National Environment Policy (2006) of India include conservation of critical environmental resources, inter-generational equity, efficiency in environmental resource use, environmental governance, enhancement of resources, livelihood security for the poor, and integration of environmental concerns for socio-economic development.

What are some examples of laws addressing environmental pollution in India?

Some examples of laws addressing environmental pollution in India include the Environment Protection Act 1986, the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act 1974, the Water Cess Act 1977, and the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act 1981.