Professional Documents
Culture Documents
ENVIRONMENTAL LAWS
SUBMITTED BY:
ANGELYN HASSAN
ALEXANDRA MONDARES
SUBMITTED TO:
MS. ROCHELL ASIS
ABSTRACT
“The ultimate aim of education is shaping behavior”, a quotation found in the pages 8 -12 of The
Journal of Environmental Education which was written by H.R. Hungerford and T. Volk (1990), influenced
the researchers to provide a context study.
The study was conducted to determine the factors that hinder the implementation of
environmental laws and to provide awareness and information to the readers. The information was
gathered through internet search engines and articles discussing environmental issues. In line with this,
researchers provided the known and proposed solutions for this issue.
The Clean Air Act (CAA) is the comprehensive federal law that regulates air emissions from stationary
and mobile sources. Among other things, this law establishes National Ambient Air Quality Standards
(NAAQS) to protect public health and public welfare and to regulate emissions of hazardous air
pollutants.
The Clean Water Act (CWA) establishes the basic structure for regulating discharges of pollutants into
the waters of the United States and regulating quality standards for surface waters. The basis of the
CWA was enacted in 1948 and was called the Federal Water Pollution Control Act, but the Act was
significantly reorganized and expanded in 1972. "Clean Water Act" became the Act's common name
with amendments in 1977.
The environmental policy of the United States is federal governmental action to regulate activities that
have an environmental impact in the United States. The goal of environmental policy is to protect the
environment for future generations while interfering as little as possible with the efficiency of
commerce or the liberty of the people and to limit inequity in who is burdened with environmental
costs. This policy grew mainly out of the environmental movement in the United States in the 1960s
and '70's during which several environmental laws were passed, regulating air and water pollution and
forming the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
Environmental acts such as above are enforced to prevent environment and natural resources
from destruction, to maintain its cleanliness and beauty, to avoid such calamities and to achieve
sustainable development that aims to meet human needs while preserving environment.
Environmental sustainability was given lately a focus by United Nations Organization (UNO). It is
one of the Millennium Development Goals to be completely achieved by 2020.
Target 7A: Integrate the principles of sustainable development into country policies and programs;
reverse loss of environmental resources
Target 7B: Reduce biodiversity loss, achieving, by 2010, a significant reduction in the rate of loss
o Proportion of land area covered by forest
Target 7C: Halve, by 2015, the proportion of the population without sustainable access to safe
drinking water and basic sanitation
o Proportion of population with sustainable access to an improved water source, urban and rural
Target 7D: By 2020, to have achieved a significant improvement in the lives of at least 100 million
slum-dwellers
o Proportion of urban population living in slums
Another obvious characteristic of global environmental law is its focus on the global
environment as a whole. Regional, national and local problems remain significant as components of
global environmental problems.
Some of the conservation organizations related to Environmental and Natural Resources Law
The Environmental Law Institute provides information services, advice, publications, training courses,
seminars, research programs and policy recommendations to engage and empower environmental
leaders the world over. ELI’s audience is leading environmental professionals in government, industry,
public interest groups and academia
NRDC is the nation's most effective environmental action organization. We use law, science and the
support of 1.3 million members and online activists to protect the planet's wildlife and wild places and
to ensure a safe and healthy environment for all living things.
The mission of EPA is to protect human health and to safeguard the natural environment -- air, water
and land -- upon which life depends. A number of laws serve as EPA's foundation for protecting the
environment and public health. However, most laws do not have enough detail to be put into practice
right away. EPA is called a regulatory agency because Congress authorizes us to write regulations that
explain the critical details necessary to implement environmental laws. In addition, a number of
Presidential Executive Orders (EOs) play a central role in our activities.
Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and their
Disposal
The Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and their
Disposal is the most comprehensive global environmental agreement on hazardous and other wastes.
The Canadian Environmental Law Association (CELA) is a non-profit, public interest organization
established in 1970 to use existing laws to protect the environment and to advocate environmental
law reforms.
The Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) is a nonprofit organization working to use
international law and institutions to protect the environment, promote human health, and ensure a
just and sustainable society.
The Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) entered into force on 29 December 1993. It has 3 main
objectives: 1. the conservation of biological diversity 2. The sustainable use of the components of
biological diversity 3. The fair and equitable sharing of the benefits arising out of the utilization of
genetic resources
The Environmental Law Alliance Worldwide (ELAW) gives public interest lawyers and scientists the
training and resources they need to help communities protect the environment through law.
The Environmental Law Foundation (ELF) is the national UK charity founded in 1992 that helps people
uses the law to protect and improve their local environment and quality of life. Through our network
of specialist lawyers and consultants across the UK, we provide free guidance and continuing support
to those in need of assistance.
European Union Environmental Laws The EU's environmental laws help protect against water, air and
noise pollution and control risks related to chemicals, biotechnology and nuclear energy within the
Union. The overall direction of EU environment policy is laid out in the latest action
program--"Environment 2010: Our Future, Our Choice." It concentrates on 4 priority areas: climate
change; nature and biodiversity; environment and health; and natural resources and waste. Also, an
Environment and Health Action Plan for 2004-2010 promotes a close relationship between health,
environment and research policy.
The IPCC was established to provide the decision-makers and others interested in climate change with
an objective source of information about climate change.
Kyoto Protocol
The Kyoto Protocol is an international agreement linked to the United Nations Framework Convention
on Climate Change. The major feature of the Kyoto Protocol is that it sets binding targets for 37
industrialized countries and the European community for reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions
.These amount to an average of five per cent against 1990 levels over the five-year period 2008-2012.
Since 1994, Canada, Mexico and the United States have collaborated in protecting North America's
environment through the North American Agreement on Environmental Cooperation (NAAEC). The
NAAEC came into force at the same time as the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) and
marks a commitment that liberalization of trade and economic growth in North America would be
accompanied by effective cooperation and continuous improvement in the environmental protection
provided by each country.
The mission of the UN'S Environment Programme is: To provide leadership and encourage partnership
in caring for the environment by inspiring, informing, and enabling nations and peoples to improve
their quality of life without compromising that of future generations.
"The Vienna Convention for the Protection of the Ozone Layer" is a treaty on the framework for
international cooperation concerning the protection of the ozone layer, which was adopted in 1985
and entered into force in 1988. It provides observations, research and information exchange on the
ozone layer.
Bellona Foundation
The Bellona Foundation is an international environmental NGO based in Norway. Founded in 1986 as a
direct action protest group, Bellona has become a recognized technology and solution-oriented
organization with offices in Oslo, Brussels, Washington D.C., St. Petersburg and Murmansk. Altogether,
some 75 engineers, ecologists, nuclear physicists, economists, lawyers, political scientists and
journalists work at Bellona.
Biofuelwatch
Biofuelwatch actively supports the campaign for an EU moratorium on agro fuels from large-scale
monocultures. Agro energy monocultures are linked to accelerated climate change, deforestation, the
impoverishment and dispossession of local communities, bio-diversity losses, human rights abuses,
water and soil degradation, loss of food sovereignty and food security.
Conservation International
We imagine a healthy prosperous world in which societies are forever committed to caring for and
valuing nature for the long-term benefit of people and all life on Earth. Conservation International is
committed to helping societies adopt a more sustainable approach to development – one that
considers and values nature at every turn.
The Conservation Law Foundation (CLF) works to solve the most significant environmental challenges
facing New England. Since 1966, CLF's advocates have used law, economics and science to create
innovative strategies that conserve natural resources, protect public health and promote vital
communities in our region.
Earth Island Institute is a non-profit, public interest, membership organization that supports people
who are creating solutions to protect our shared planet.
The Earth Policy Institute (EPI) was founded in 2001 by Lester Brown, the founder and former
president of the Worldwatch Institute, to provide a plan of a sustainable future along with a roadmap
of how to get from here to there. EPI works at the global level simply because no country can fully
implement a Plan B economy in isolation. EPI’s goals are (1) to provide a global plan (Plan B) for moving
the world onto an environmentally and economically sustainable path, (2) to provide examples
demonstrating how the plan would work, and (3) to keep the media, policymakers, academics,
environmentalists, and other decision-makers focused on the process of building a Plan B economy.
The Environmental Foundation for Africa (EFA) aims to protect and restore the environment in West
Africa. For over 15 years, EFA has led: * environmental education (EE) and awareness raising
campaigns; * restored degraded lands and conserved pristine forests; * minimized the impacts of civil
war on the environment and its inhabitants and; * equipped thousands of people with sustainable
livelihood skills such as agroforestry.
FERN is a non-governmental organization (NGO) created in 1995 to keep track of the European Union’s
involvement in forests and coordinate NGO activities at the European level. Our work centers on
forests and forest peoples’ rights and the issues that affect them such as trade and investment and
climate change. All of our work is done in close collaboration with social and environmental
organizations and movements across the world. The name FERN was chosen because ferns are one of
the few species that grow in all forests.
Friends of Nature
With over 500,000 members in 50 member and partner organizations, the Friends-of-Nature
movement, founded in 1895, is one of the largest non-governmental organizations (NGOs) worldwide.
Our work is focused on shaping the sustainable development of our societies.
We are the world's largest grassroots environmental network and we campaign on today's most
urgent environmental and social issues. We challenge the current model of economic and corporate
globalization, and promote solutions that will help to create environmentally sustainable and socially
just societies.
Greenpeace International
Greenpeace exists because this fragile earth deserves a voice. It needs solutions. It needs change. It
needs action. Greenpeace is an independent global campaigning organization that acts to change
attitudes and behavior, to protect and conserve the environment and to promote peace.
The International Environment House (IEH) gathers under a common roof a range of United Nations
and non-governmental organizations active in the field of environment and sustainable development.
The institute champions global sustainable development through innovation, research and
relationships that span the entire world. It is devoted to the ongoing communication of its findings as it
engages decision-makers in business, government, non-government organizations and other sectors.
IUCN, the International Union for Conservation of Nature, helps the world find pragmatic solutions to
our most pressing environment and development challenges. It supports scientific research, manages
field projects all over the world and brings governments, non-government organizations, United
Nations agencies, companies and local communities together to develop and implement policy, laws
and best practice.
Nature Conservancy
Welcome to The Nature Conservancy — the leading conservation organization working around the
world to protect ecologically important lands and waters for nature and people.
NatureServe
NatureServe is a non-profit conservation organization whose mission is to provide the scientific basis
for effective conservation action. NatureServe and its network of natural heritage programs are the
leading source for information about rare and endangered species and threatened ecosystems.
SEI is an independent international research institute. We have been engaged in environment and
development issues at local, national, regional and global policy levels for more than 20 years. The
Institute was formally established in 1989 by the Swedish Government and celebrated its 20th
anniversary in October 2009. SEI has established a reputation for rigorous and objective scientific
analysis in the field of environment and development. Our goal is to bring about change for sustainable
development by bridging science and policy. We do this by providing integrated analysis that supports
decision makers.
Our mission is to provide business leadership as a catalyst for change toward sustainable development,
and to support the business license to operate, innovate and grow in a world increasingly shaped by
sustainable development issues.
WRI works with business partners, governments and civil society to confront today’s most urgent
environmental challenges. We have over 50 active projects working on aspects of global climate
change, sustainable markets, ecosystem protection, and environmentally responsible governance.
Worldwatch Institute
Worldwatch Institute delivers the insights and ideas that empower decision makers to create an
environmentally sustainable society that meets human needs. Worldwatch focuses on the 21st-
century challenges of climate change, resource degradation, population growth, and poverty by
developing and disseminating solid data and innovative strategies for achieving a sustainable society.
Finally, changing global perceptions are arguably at the root of behavioral changes by
multinational corporations. Multinational corporations can become a focus of global protests by
environmental and human rights activists. This exposure has put pressure on multinational
corporations to improve their behavior. Parallel growth of non-binding environmental commitments,
declarations and other international instruments has had similar effects. These helped to reinforce
worldwide recognition of environmental values.
At the most basic level, expose newcomers not only to domestic law but also to the principal
approaches to environmental regulation that are emerging around the world. At its extreme, such
agreements in each party commits in achieving shared environmental goals.
THE PROPOSED SOLUTIONS
Researchers believed that the significance of the environment through a revolution exhibiting
changes, starting from your own. Seminars are promoting to start changes from using reusable bags,
cleaning houses, separating wastes in non-biodegradable and biodegradable, restraining from using
sprayers containing Chlorofluorocarbons that destroy Ozone layer. People must be provided with
awareness and contexts such as Research studies.
According to experts there are two major approaches to slowing the buildup of greenhouse gases.
First, reduce the consumption of fossil fuels making greenhouse gas emissions reduced. The other is
carbon capture or carbon sequestration. Carbon dioxide is stored in a carbon component, preventing it
from reaching the atmosphere. An old practice, planting trees, is also effective to soak up a great deal of
carbon dioxide, producing more oxygen.
Moreover, these are the solutions to environmental degradation. However, the process of Earth’s
destruction cannot be stop but it can be minimized. The governments must approach and promote
aspirations to their own nation to gain cooperation. Policies must strengthen the punishment of every
violator. Strictness is necessary on this situation since people do not have fear and not aware of their
mistakes.
Every import and export industry should be checked well to fight smuggling and illegal trade of
wildlife. Endangered species should be provided with protection and breeding houses to increase their
species. Such environmental crimes needed to be watched carefully.
Countries should join international groups such as United Nations so that the poor countries will
gain knowledge, treaties with other countries and make efforts to this issue. And most of all, people
must be responsible and have an initiative to work on one goal: providing Earth a protection and care.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
The researchers have the greatest privilege of expressing out heartiest thanks to the following:
Faculty and staffs of St. Clare Science High School, for giving the researchers a good quality of
education
Ms. Rochell B. Asis, for teaching, guiding and showing the researchers how environment needs
research
Readers who served as the inspiration in doing such descriptive and informative research
Above all, God, for letting the wisdom, knowledge and strength pour down to everyone