Environmental Law: Policies and Legal Processes

1. Sustainable development or sustainability refers to the need for development to be socially, economically and environmentally sound. “Human beings are at the centre of concerns for sustainable development. They are entitled to a healthy and productive life in harmony with nature.”

2. Intergenerational equity. Sustainable development is advancement that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. The current generation should make sure that the health, diversity and productivity of the environment continues for the benefit of future generations. “The right to development must be fulfilled so as to equitably meet developmental and environmental needs of present and future generations.” The principlecontemplates the idea of limitations imposed by the state of technology and social organization on the environment’s ability to meet present and future needs.

3. Conservation of biological diversity and ecological integrity. This principlemeans conserving the diversity of flora and fauna and the health and sustainability of ecosystems. The international community should seek to maintain three important aspects of life on Earth: the natural diversity found in living systems (biological diversity); the composition, structure, and function of those systems (ecological integrity); and their resiliency and ability to endure over time (ecological health).

4. Public participation in decision making presupposes that:

– “Environmental issues are best handled with the participation of all concerned citizens, at the relevant level. At the national level, each individual shall have appropriate access to information concerning the environment that is held by public authorities, including information on hazardous materials and activities in their communities, and the opportunity to participate in decision-making processes.”

– “The creativity, ideals and courage of the youth of the world should be mobilized to forge a global partnership in order to achieve sustainable development and ensure a better future for all.”

5. Precautionary principle. Environmental measures must anticipate, prevent and attack the causes of environmental degradation. “In order to protect the environment, the precautionary approach shall be widely applied by states according to their capabilities. Where there are threats of serious or irreversible damage, lack of full scientific certainty shall not be used as a reason for postponingcost-effective measures to prevent environmental degradation.”

6. Pollution prevention. The pollution prevention approach focuses directly on the use of processes, practices, materials and energy that avoid or minimize the creation of pollutants and wastes at source, and not on “ add-on ” abatement measures. Pollution prevention promotes continuous improvement through operational and behavioural changes. Pollution prevention is a shared responsibility among governments and individuals, industrial, commercial, institutional, and community sectors. It gives careful consideration to areas such as: substances of concern; efficient use and conservation of natural resources; training; operating practices; clean production processes which create less waste; equipment modifications; process changes; materials and feedstock substitution; reformulation; product life-cycle.

7. Integration principle. This means taking the assessment of environmental impacts into account when making decisions. Environmental protection requires that due consideration be given to the potential consequences of environmentally fateful decisions. “Environmental impact assessment, as a national instrument, shall be undertaken for proposed activities that are likely to have a significant adverse impact on the environment and are subject to a decision of a competent national authority.”

8. Polluter pays. This principle means that the costs of pollution and waste should be paid by those who cause the pollution or create waste:

– “National authorities should endeavour to promote the internalization of environmental costs and the use of economic instruments, taking into account the approach that the polluter should, in principle, bear the costs of pollution, with due regard to the public interest and without distorting international trade and investment.”

– “States shall develop national law regarding liability and compensation for the victims of pollution and other environmental damage. States shall also cooperate in an expeditious and more determined manner to develop further international law regarding liability and compensation for adverse effects of environmental damage caused by activities within their jurisdiction or control to areas beyond their jurisdiction.”

 

основные источники информации: 1) http://www.un.org/documents/; 2) http://edont.org.au/factsheets/guiding-principles-environment-law/

 

8.3.1. Слова из текста:

sound – здравый, правильный; обоснованный

intergenerational equity – справедливость по отношению к будущим поколениям

advancement – развитие, продвижение вперед, достижение, прогресс

state of technology – уровень технологического развития, технологическое состояние

flora = vegetation – флора, растительный мир, растительность, растительная жизнь

fauna – животный мир

resiliency – способность к восстановлению

endure over time – выдерживать испытание временем

forge – выковать, сковать, скрепить

precautionary principle – принцип принятия мер предосторожности

anticipate – предвидеть, прогнозировать

postpone – отсрочить, переносить на более поздний срок

cost-effective – экономически целесообразный

pollution prevention – предотвращение загрязнений окружающей среды

at source – в начале, изначально, у источника

add-on – добавочный, дополнительный, вспомогательный

abatement – меры по борьбе с загрязнением, устранение, ликвидация; сокращение

operational changes – изменения в условиях эксплуатации

behavioural changes – изменения моделей поведения

clean production – экологически чистое производство

feedstock substitution – замещение исходного сырья

reformulation – переработка рецептуры, изменение рецептуры продукта

life-cycle – срок действия, эксплуатационный срок

assessment of environmental impacts – оценка влияния на окружающую среду

due – должный, надлежащий

polluter = generator of waste – источник загрязняющего вещества, виновник загрязнения; предприятие, загрязняющие окружающую среду

endeavour – прилагать усилия, стремиться

internalization – интернализация, усвоение, восприятие, принятие

bear the costs – нести расходы

expeditious – ускоренный, быстрый

determined – решительный, непреклонный, твёрдый

Ключевые слова.

1) Просмотрите ключевые слова по теме «Environmental Law».

2) Употребите 7 из них в самостоятельно составленных предложениях, используя материал тематического блока.

3) Будьте готовы прочитать свои предложения студентам группы так, чтобы они смогли на слух перевести их на русский язык.

abatement air pollution assessment of environmental impacts conservation disposal emergencies environment environment protection environmental legislation fauna flora landfill man-made pollution natural pollution physical pollution pollutants

polluter pollution pollution control pollution prevention precautionary principle preventative principle public awareness public participation recycling soil pollution to conserve to deplete to pollute toxic wastes vehicles exhausts water pollution

8.5. Передайте основное содержание текстов на тему «Environmental Law», используя типовые фразы из Приложения 2 и опираясь на следующие пункты плана:

– environmental issues;

– forms of pollution;

– basic principles of environment protection and environmental legislation.

Приложение 1

Типовые фразы,