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UNIT 3: ENVIRONMENT LAW, VOLUNTARY INITIATIVES AND PRINCIPLES FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
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Prevention at Source
‘Prevention is better than cure.’ Environment improvement practices should be
applied at the very outset, to prevent the generation of waste and pollution in the
first place. The objective is to move away from end-of-pipe, clean-up approaches
that deal with pollution after it has been created, by avoiding the generation of
waste at source. Prevention at source also paves the way for reducing the material
and energy intensity of processes and products/services.
For example, if a hotel or restaurant starts using less water by installing flowreducers
in taps and water-saving flushers in toilets, it will also significantly
reduce wastewater. This means less wastewater to treat, reducing risk to nearby
waterways. Using less water also results in lower bills, while reduced wastewater
output lowers effluent discharge costs.
The ‘Polluter Pays’ Principle
This principle says that the costs of pollution abatement should be borne by
the polluter. It has been widely accepted and applied in the development of
environment policies on the use of ‘economic instruments’ for environment
improvement, such as pollution taxes, user fees, and levies.
An important question that arises from this is: Who is the polluter? People
often suppose the polluters are manufacturers of goods and services, often
forgetting that consumers are also polluters, since they demand and consume the
products and services that generate the pollution. Governments are also polluters,
either directly as producers and consumers, or indirectly by subsidising polluting
activities.
The ‘polluter pays’ principle provides the framework for the development of
economically viable pollution control strategies. In dealing with pollution costs
and how they should be allocated among polluters, the principle further suggests
that:
• Pollution within a given area and medium (air, land or water) be
controlled up to the point where marginal control cost equals marginal
benefit 2 ;
• The cost of abatement be paid for by polluters in proportion to the type
and volume of their emissions and discharges;
• Those who have the lowest abatement costs carry out the abatement
activity until abatement costs are equalised across all polluters.
The ‘polluter
pays’ principle
provides the
framework for
the development
of economically
viable pollution
control
strategies.
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Following on from the environment
economics theory of full cost
pricing, pollution control should
take place to the point that the
pollution abatement costs equals
the benefits or damages avoided.
Public Participation
The principle of public participation is concerned with the decision-making
processes that involve all those most likely to be affected by a decision. It dictates
that:
• All groups of society should be able to have their say on matters of
concern;
• Interest groups should be able to participate in discussions that
precede decision-making;
• Relevant groups should be informed about the potential environment
impacts of developments and the measures proposed to reduce them.
The principle
of public
participation is
concerned with
the decisionmaking
processes that
involve all those
most likely to be
affected by a
decision.