5
Modern environmental laws have been shaped by the following principles:
The Precautionary Principle
This principle states that if there is a suspicion that if an activity is likely to have
environmentally negative impact, the activity needs to be controlled now instead of
waiting for indisputable scientific evidence.
The Prevention Principle
Preventing environmental harm is economical, easy, and will have lesser negative
environmental impact instead of reacting to environmental issues after damage has
occurred.
The “Polluter Pays” Principle
This principle insists that “polluters” should pay instead of leaving the burden on
non-polluters to take up the expenses of the following:
• Remediation of pollution already caused
• Abatement of pollution from source
In these ways, manufactures can add pollution control expenses to their product
and transfer to their customers. If the customer is not willing to buy the product
without paying pollution prevention cost, obviously, the market mechanisms will
stop the production of polluting activities.
The Integration Principle
Under this principle, it becomes mandatory to obtain permits under environmental
laws prior to obtaining other permits and connections to supply basic necessities
like water and electricity apart from funding opportunity in the form of loan,
grant, etc.
The Public Participation Principle
Environment is not owned by individuals, but shared by community. Pollution does
not honour political and statutory boundary, and the environmental impact due to
activity may have impact in terms of decline in the quality of environment by
• Endangering species
• Reducing natural resources
• Causing pollution
• Spreading sickness, etc.
Under this principle, public shall have the opportunity to influence the decision
by written comments or hearings.
Sustainable Development
Sustainable development is a move towards economic planning that attempts to
promote economic growth whilst conserving the environmental quality for future
generations. Biological and physicochemical environment cannot be seen in isolation of socio-economic environment in the context of sustainable development.
1.2 Principles of Environmental Legislation
Modern environmental laws have been shaped by the following principles:
The Precautionary Principle
This principle states that if there is a suspicion that if an activity is likely to have
environmentally negative impact, the activity needs to be controlled now instead of
waiting for indisputable scientific evidence.
The Prevention Principle
Preventing environmental harm is economical, easy, and will have lesser negative
environmental impact instead of reacting to environmental issues after damage has
occurred.
The “Polluter Pays” Principle
This principle insists that “polluters” should pay instead of leaving the burden on
non-polluters to take up the expenses of the following:
• Remediation of pollution already caused
• Abatement of pollution from source
In these ways, manufactures can add pollution control expenses to their product
and transfer to their customers. If the customer is not willing to buy the product
without paying pollution prevention cost, obviously, the market mechanisms will
stop the production of polluting activities.
The Integration Principle
Under this principle, it becomes mandatory to obtain permits under environmental
laws prior to obtaining other permits and connections to supply basic necessities
like water and electricity apart from funding opportunity in the form of loan,
grant, etc.
The Public Participation Principle
Environment is not owned by individuals, but shared by community. Pollution does
not honour political and statutory boundary, and the environmental impact due to
activity may have impact in terms of decline in the quality of environment by
• Endangering species
• Reducing natural resources
• Causing pollution
• Spreading sickness, etc.
Under this principle, public shall have the opportunity to influence the decision
by written comments or hearings.
Sustainable Development
Sustainable development is a move towards economic planning that attempts to
promote economic growth whilst conserving the environmental quality for future
generations. Biological and physicochemical environment cannot be seen in isolation of socio-economic environment in the context of sustainable development.
1.2 Principles of Environmental Legislation