Some days ago, a partner of mine, at Peru, told me some specifications about how national environmental law is on big developments (as urbanization, roads, railways, mining, dams). I was very surprised because Peru's law is much more exigent and developed than Spanish one is. Would you share some details about your countries? I think it can be a very interesting discussion.
Tha main question is that environmental sustainability is connected to social and economic sustainability and people taking decisions are usually giving more importance to the economic sustainability.
My country also has detailed and comprehensive environmental laws and these laws enforcing and monitoring institutions. However, millions of dollars have gone down the drain in cleaning Ganges under Ganga Plan without avail. We have laws but they don't have teeth. There is an old proverb, administration always has an eye closed. True, to decision makers economic sustainability is more important than environmental sustainability, while knowing well that former cannot be maintained for long without latter. In economic development process, less emphasis is places on increasing real income of people and eradication of hunger than on tangible development plans as constructing apparently good roads, sanctioning townships and economic zones for industries not with the purpose to provide better infrastructure, good housing and generate employment, but because some person could add more to their stock of wealth with out taking cognizance of the fact that in this process how many trees are fell, grass lands are destroyed and wildlife is disturbed and biodiversity is depleted.
From a social point of view, government should consider who is benefited with those infrastructures, industry, etc. Those case you cite sound like benefit for "high" classes (more power for those who are powerful). Increasing social inequalities, in the middle and long term, is the same that decreasing sustainability. This kind of process hapens in India... but also in Spain. My aim with this question is more on "take the beat" of social assessment laws, and whether those law are (or not) respected.
There are several law scripts and articles in Egypt. However, not really in action! There is a deep gape in the societal awareness accompanied with lack of outreach. I think that this should starts in schools, universities, and media. However, I believe that we need a new generation with 25 years to do so, especially that the country is now facing several exigent files...
Sorry everybody. I think I have improved my question (horrible english, excuse me)
Pakistan has developed the Pakistan Environmental Protection Act 1997, which focuses on regulating new indsutrial devlopement through Initial Environmental Examination / Environmental Impact Assessment. The already existing industries are encouraged to adopt Self Monitoring and Reporting Process to comply with the National Environmental Quality Standards (NEQS) for effluents, air emission. However, industry is found reluctant to adopt those process which according to them may put financial implications. The Government is also not found so serious in taking action against voilators of the law. Besdies, this law also provides detailed guidelines for Solid Waste Management, Handling of Hazardous Sustacnes, Pollution Charge Rules for Polluting Industries, Environmnetal Samples Rules, Rules for Certification of Environmnetal Laboratories, Hospital Waste Management Rules, Environmental Tribunal Rules. Under this Law, the Environmental Protection Agencies, Environmnetal Magistrates, Environmnetal Tribunals, Environmnetal Laboratories have been set up to combat pollution, promote sustainable developement. However, there are two important problems first one is lack of financial resources to enhance the capacity of those instituitons to take hammer actions, second sone is corruption in the Government bodies concerned with the environmental monitoring and regulation. Practically speaking there is little effect of the implemetation of this Act in 1997 as the public is not fiully aware of this law anf their responsibility. Here in our country, it is normal that public consultation is not carried out while bringing the new law. Secondly, once the law is passed by the legislative body, then the pubilicity of the law is not carried out. Unlike in west where the copies of the laws are printed in the common men's language and supplied to heach household periodically for their information. The Seminars are also conducted at each housing scheme level to sensitize public about the law. Another sad aspect here is that industry and industrial organization are very powerful as most of the business is owned by the elite class of people, who also govern the Governmnet. Therfore, the public interest is not safegaurded in terms of environment, rathern than industry is give leninecy time and again. Our country has take first step by establishing the relevant laws and rules and regulations, which took around 20-30 years. May be we need more than 20-30 years to see any visible change in th society as a result of implrmrntation fo those laws. I will be more than happy to share with my experience in this question with you, as I worked for estabslihsment of those laws and now I am teaching those courses in Univeristy.
Thank you for your great answer Muhammad. I can realize that environmental, and specially social aspects, talking about impacts, are in a similar situation than in a lot of countries in 5 continents. Thank you also for your offer of collaboration. All mi data contact can ve find in www.eismethods.com. It.s my company, a spin.off form my University. We make public an private consultancy on social issues concerning development and environment.
- Badges
- Science method
- Similar topics
- Biological Science
- Ecology