module 6

What is environmental policy?

Policies, practices, and laws designed to protect human health and well-being, natural resources, and environmental quality.

How are environmental policies established?

Through negotiation and compromise, with open debate allowing all voices to be heard, promoting collective well-being.

What drives policy making?

Economic interest groups, industry associations, powerful individuals, and public interest groups that develop broad support and bring citizens together.

What is the policy creation cycle?

A continuous cycle: Identify problem → Set agenda → Develop proposals → Build support → Enact rule/law → Implement policy → Evaluate results → Suggest changes.

What is P.D. 1152?

Philippine Environment Code (1977) - Framework for comprehensive environmental protection and management, maintaining air quality levels to protect public health.

What does P.D. 1152 aim to prevent?

Injury and damage to plant and animal life and property, while promoting social and economic development.

What is R.A. 8749?

The Clean Air Act of 1999 - Regulates air emissions and aims to achieve and maintain clean air meeting National Air Quality guideline values.

What is R.A. 9275?

The Clean Water Act of 2004 - Protects surface water from land-based pollution sources through comprehensive and integrated strategy.

What is R.A. 9147?

The Wildlife Resources Conservation and Protection Act of 2001 - Aims to conserve and protect wildlife resources and their habitats.

What is R.A. 6969?

Toxic Substances, Hazardous and Nuclear Waste Control Act of 1990 - Regulates, restricts, or prohibits importation, manufacture, distribution, and disposal of hazardous chemicals.

What does R.A. 6969 prohibit?

Entry of hazardous wastes into the Philippines and facilitates research on toxic chemicals.

What is P.D. 1586?

Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) - Facilitates balance between socio-economic development and environmental protection.

When was the EIA System established?

1978 with the enactment of P.D. 1586.

What is EIA?

Environmental Impact Assessment - A planning and management tool that helps address negative consequences or risks on the environment.

What is R.A. 7586?

The National Integrated Protected Areas System Act of 1992, later amended by R.A. 11038.

What is R.A. 11038?

The Expanded National Integrated Protected Areas Systems Act of 2018 - Declares and provides management of protected areas.

What is R.A. 8550?

The Philippine Fisheries Code of 1998 - Provides for development, management, and conservation of fisheries.

How many international environmental treaties have been signed?

More than 170 treaties and conventions in the past 25 years.

What issues do international treaties address?

Intercontinental shipping of hazardous waste, deforestation, overfishing, trade in endangered species, global warming, and wetland protection.

When and where was the first major UN environmental conference?

1972 in Stockholm - UN Conference on the Human Environment with 113 countries and NGOs.

What was the 1992 Earth Summit?

Rio de Janeiro UNCED (United Nations Conference on Environment and Development) with 110 nations and 2,400 NGOs.

When was UNCED repeated?

2012 in Rio de Janeiro on its 20th anniversary.

What is the Ramsar Convention?

Convention on Wetlands of International Importance especially as Waterfowl Habitat (held 1971, enacted 1975).

What is the Heritage Convention?

Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage (held 1972, enacted 1975).

What is CITES?

Convention on International Trade on Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (held 1973, enacted 1987) - Lists threatened and endangered species.

What is CMS?

Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (held 1979, enacted 1983).

What is the Vienna Convention and Montreal Protocol?

Vienna Convention for the Protection of the Ozone Layer and Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer (held 1985, enacted 1988).

What does the Montreal Protocol do?

Protects the ozone layer by committing signatories to phase out chemicals that break down the ozone.

What is the Basel Convention?

Basel Convention on the Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and their Disposal (held 1989, enacted 1992).

What does the Basel Convention require?

Hazardous wastes should be disposed of in the states that generated them, minimizing production of hazardous materials.

What is CBD?

Convention on Biological Diversity (held 1992, enacted 1993).

What is UNFCCC?

United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (held 1992, enacted 1994) - Leads governments to share data on climate change.

What is the Kyoto Protocol?

1997 protocol under UNFCCC that set targets to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

What is CCD?

United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification in Countries Experiencing Serious Drought and/or Desertification, Particularly in Africa (held 1994, enacted 1996).

What is the Rotterdam Convention?

1997 convention that enhanced the Basel Convention regarding hazardous waste shipment.

What actions can citizens take to influence environmental policy?

Contact elected representatives, vote, encourage others to vote, join civic organizations, practice leadership locally, apply education, build sustainability.

How can individuals practice environmental responsibility?

Practice conservation at home, stay informed, learn about local environment, think about consumption.

What is conspicuous consumption?

Things we buy to impress others; things we do not want.

How does consuming less help the environment?

Reduces global environmental footprint and pressure on resources.

What is the United Nations tasked with?

Maintaining international peace and security, developing friendly relations among nations, achieving international cooperation, and harmonizing actions of nations.

What was the Earth Summit?

1992 conference held to address issues concerning environmental protection and socio-economic development.

What is sustainable development according to Brundtland?

Meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.

What are the three pillars of sustainable development?

Economic, Environmental, and Social factors.

Why is combating poverty key to sustainable development?

Poverty reduces access to health care, education, and other essential components of development.

How does reducing resource consumption help sustainability?

More consumption means more pressure on environment; less consumption means less pressure.

Why is population growth a sustainability concern?

Leads to ever-greater resource demands because all people need some resources.

Why is health care important for sustainable development?

Especially for children and mothers, it is essential for a productive life.

Why are sustainable cities important?

Over half of humanity now lives in cities, making urban sustainability critical.

What role does environmental policy play in sustainability?

Guides decision making to ensure environmental quality is protected before damage occurs and sets agreed-upon rules for resource use.

Why is protecting the atmosphere essential?

For minimizing the rate of climate change and reducing impacts of air pollution on people, plants, and infrastructure.

How can combating desertification and drought help?

Better management of water resources can save farms, ecosystems, and lives.

Why are deforestation and biodiversity protection linked?

Much of the world's biodiversity is in forests.

How does agriculture and rural development contribute to sustainability?

Improving conditions for billions of rural people can help reduce populations in urban slums.

What environmental achievements were made toward sustainability goals?

Poverty rates reduced by 50%, child mortality reduced by half, gender equality in education in Southern Asia, improved treatment for infectious diseases.

What sustainability challenges remain?

Child poverty remains high, hunger is widespread, global financial assistance hasn't kept pace, greenhouse gas emissions continue rising, continued deforestation and biodiversity losses.

How much is estimated to achieve sustainable development goals?

$350 billion per year to develop renewable resources, stop soil erosion, protect ecosystems, control population growth, and provide decent living standards for the poor.

How much is spent on wars compared to sustainability needs?

Over $1 trillion spent on wars while only $350 billion per year is needed for sustainable development.

How did environmental movements affect the Soviet Union?

Environmental demonstrations were acceptable when political dissent was not, and environmental protests helped contribute to the USSR's collapse in 1992.

What environmental activism occurred in China by 2010?

Over 100,000 events protesting pollution and environmental health issues, campaigns that blocked 13 large dams on the Nu River, and over 2,000 recognized social and environmental organizations.

Why is building support central to policy development?

Through media campaigns, public education, and personal lobbying of decision-makers to gather votes and agreement for new rules.

How can different professionals contribute to environmental protection?

Lawyers develop environmental laws, engineers develop cleanup technologies, economists and social scientists evaluate costs and develop solutions.

What is the relationship between environmental science and sustainable development?

Environmental science helps us comprehend environmental systems and human impacts, enabling us to take steps toward protection, making it essential to sustainable development.