The Common Perception of Environmental Problems - Research Proposal Example

Environmental Policy Registration Number Impact of Energy Sources to Biodiversity Introduction Definition of Environmental Policy It has become universally acceptable that human activities has been the major course of environmental problems. The concern has escalated most particularly in the industrialized world. The interest has circulated around the question: who is concerned? Most people are concerned about the impact of environmental problems to human health and do not look at the broad spectrum of hazards caused to the environment as well. Majority agree that change cannot occur at personal level and always wait for a ‘saviour’ to address environmental problems. The Concept and Common Perception of Environmental Problems Generally, the concept shares the generic school of thought where it sheds light on the conglomerate of human activities that jeopardize the health of all life and the environment. Absurdity arises from the perception of the ‘Not In My Back Yard’ syndrome where people’s concern pointed the environmental impact caused by the company they work in. The myriad of the mentioned factors compelled governments to draft strong environmental policies to avert further damage to the environment (Asif, 2007, p.12). The commercial world has also shown dedication by adopting strong environmental policy statements in their systems and some have further sponsored several environmental conservation projects through donations or direct participation. The government has created a ministry specifically concerned with addressing national environmental concerns. The Energy Act (2008) has expressed the government’s commitment to reducing nuclear accident risks in future by rolling out a master plan that will phase out fifteen of its nuclear reactors, embrace the potency of wind power technology in injecting more power to the grid, harness more solar power and expand biomass use in power generation by 2025. The Principle of Precaution The most powerful principle in addressing modern environmental concerns is the principle of precaution developed in 1992 in the form of Rio Declaration on Environment and Development. Its objective was to minimize potential risk caused by nuclear technology by embracing cost-effective measures before putting up a nuclear plant in any country (Asif, 2007, p.31). Environmental problems have existed back from industrial and agrarian revolution in the U.K. Major environmental concerns therefore arose in order to address present and emerging environmental issues. This was achieved by implementing environmental management laws that are later enacted as environmental policies at different geographical domains. What probability of risk does nuclear energy pose? Is the precautionary principle accurate? Modern nuclear scientists claim that it is possible to calculate the probability of risk as a function of the damage that would arise due to spread of radiation and the associated health implications. It is justifiable to reject approval of a nuclear power project if the associated risk of nuclear accident is high (Davis, 2004, p.24). This type of risk assessment is not only cost effective but is also very accurate and predicts accidents before its occurrence. If the risk assessment does not prove to be accurate then it is worth adopting the precautionary principle, which according to nuclear experts, is more objective and is not limited to theory. The World Commission on the Ethics of Scientific Knowledge and Technology (COMEST) requires that when human activities result to morally unacceptable damage that is scientifically sound but debatable, actions shall be taken to avert that harm (Davis, 2004, p.41). The logic of proof The logic of proof principle requires the key decision makers to rely on sheer scientific proof before any nuclear project implementation to protect the environment from any consequential impact. The precautionary principle minimizes use of humans as test kits and using the results to make future recommendations. The method will also reduce risk to the environment and biodiversity at large. Environmentalists to question the risk accompanied by using some products have used the same logic (Ecclesston, 2008, p.6). In the past, little concern was put on environmental effects resulting from use of certain products. The law has inculcated stringent rules that eradicate the use of environmentally harmful materials to protect biodiversity. Sustainability is fast becoming a global concern in all spheres of industrialization with special attention in global environmental impact. In as much as nuclear energy has been regarded as ‘green’, it still significantly bears unmentioned devastating implication because it has not been subjected to sufficient scientific research (Davis, 2004, p.55). Some countries like Germany are already downsizing their nuclear projects after the 1986 Chernobyl Disaster in Ukraine. Magnitude of the Problem The intricacies of pollution problems in the United Kingdom dates back to industrial revolution. Initially, the concern was the impact to public health but this has since changed to local and regional concern. The country should not segregate environmental problems to the area affected alone but should consider the pervasive effect it has to other areas. In as much as nuclear power is considered as the solution to biodiversity problem, the scope of biodiversity conservation should not be limited to conservative ideologies confined within specific areas. The Environmental Law was critical in development of Environmental Policy in the U.K. Public intervention resulting from health concerns was the driving force behind the development of Environmental Policy, in the nineteenth-century. Alkali Acts (1863) and 1868) emerged to monitor industrial emissions and to reduce air pollution (Davis, 2004, p.59). Major nuclear accidents have occurred in Europe and the United Kingdom should therefore closely monitor the state of its nuclear reactors to avert such occurrences. The effects of nuclear accidents cannot be ignored: health effects spreads beyond generations long after an accident and, there is no known scientifically safe disposal method of nuclear wastes. The Cost of Resource Exploitation Exploitation of every resource has a cost. The higher the rarity the higher the associated cost of exploitation. Businesses do not consider their activities as having impacts on the environment and often believe that it is someone else’s responsibility to address environmental issues. Environmental Policy incorporates the relationship between human activities and the natural environment. Nuclear power generation encompasses a case of priorities between national interest and the natural government. The environment continues to pay a huge price because of nuclear power proliferation. The country should not only pay attention to the current needs that the technology satiates but should focus on the resultant impact on the future generation. In fact, a number of experts agree that nuclear energy is unsustainable and that it is not the only solution to modern energy demands (Davis, 2004, p.61). The United Kingdom is addressing the concern by aiming at retiring fifteen of its reactors by twenty-twenty three. Since wind power is abundant in the country, the government is aiming at increasing wind power generation. This is amongst several propositions the government has devised to achieve its carbon footprint objectives. Another proposition advocates for the expansion of biomass power generation to achieve its agenda for phasing out its nuclear reactors. Industry Influence and Support The Energy Act drafted in 2008 has been the motivating force behind the country’s commitment to reduce carbon emissions. Even though public opinion still supports use of nuclear reactors, the status quo remains contentious. The United Kingdom’s Department of Energy and Climate Change (DOECC) promoted financial incentives for communities that hosted windmills and nuclear power plants. A share of the taxes from each unit of power generated would be contributed to the communities throughout the plant’s lifespan. The government is committed to commissioning fifteen new reactors by 2025 (Fesenko, 2007, p.17). The review of energy policy in 2006 further boosted support of new nuclear reactors, which will be financed and constructed by private investors, who will also shoulder the decommissioning and waste disposal costs as per the international standards. Radioactive Wastes Disposal Until the 1980’s, the U.K. disposed its nuclear wastes in deep oceans. Technological advancements alongside international ban have been instrumental in stopping deep-sea pollution. Both low-level and medium-level solid nuclear wastes are disposed of in waste respiratory, whereas decommissioning and high-level wastes will be stored sealed steel canisters where they will be cooled before disposing of after fifty years (Fesenko, 2007, p.21). These developments are expected to reduce environmental impact resulting from reactive waste disposal in the time to come. It is important that other countries emulate the new proposals to reduce paranoia from global nuclear waste disposal (Fesenko, 2007, p.33). The international community should take a leading role in addressing cross-border environmental concerns resulting from reactive power generation in order to improve international environmental quality. The primary objective of environmental encompasses improving ecological conditions. However, this should not compromise the ability of other socio-cultural and economic activities performed by the present population. The State of Affairs in the United Kingdom What are they doing to manage their waste streams? Several environmental corporations and policies have been jointly developed by the two countries in order to include the public in environmental issues. The UK has formulated many laws and policies in address of different environmental problems. The policies are mainly in the form of acts enacted by the government. The Commission for Environmental Corporation (CEC) exclusively addresses five areas: human and animal health protection; environment management, environmental policy, economy and trade; environmental law and enforcement; environmental conservation; and public participation in environmental issues. Land Pollution Land related environmental degradation in the areas predominantly emanate from soil erosion, heavy industrial and agricultural activities. England has a direct dependence on land for its economy where close to a third of its population is absorbed in land-based economic activities. The situation is unlike in America where only about 15% of employment is dedicated to agriculture (Hessing, 2005, p.32). Poor agricultural practises may lead to serious health complications and death. For instance, traces of banned pesticide DDE are still found in the population due to the pesticide’s environmental persistence (Collin, 2006, p.15). Radical measures are being taken in both countries to address land degradation and pollution. Examples are the implementation of Conservation Reserve Program (1992), Conservation Technical Assistance (1992) and Conservation Compliance (1992) saw soil erosion on croplands reduce by one billion metric tonnes in 1992 (Collin, 2006, p.43). The use of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) has been jointly mitigated by implementing stringent pesticide management programs across borders. Forest forms significant land cover in the UK, covering over half of Canada and almost a third of USA (Merchant, 2007, p.21) therefore forming vast categories of different biodiversity together with multiple environmental benefits. Growing population demands increased forest products usage and, therefore, sustainable forest management must be practiced to balance the ever-growing needs. Legislations have been put in place to regulate commercial allowable cut by engaging both private and public sectors in effective, sustainable forestry management (Kraft, 2007, p.45). This has spawned several conservation groups in the recent past, lobbying for conservation of old grown forests in the regions due to promote biodiversity conservation. Both public forest and private forestlands are managed for different uses with the latter focusing on fibre production and non-industrial high yield wood production at a lower cost per unit area. This factor strongly emphasized the role played by private forestland owners in promoting good forest stewardship in United States (Kraft, 2007, p.51). These groups have also been motivated to encourage growth of public forestland on private property to increase national forest cover. The UK makes one of the largest power consumers per capita in the world. This has serious environmental implications and may have a huge impact on drinking water and agriculture in the UK. Adopting green energy will not only offset the existing toxic levels but also increase energy efficiency in the global landscape. Polluter Pays Principle Most companies have taken least responsibility in addressing pollution impact caused by their activities. Little is done to prevent the companies from polluting the seas, lakes, oceans, air and land. When resources are used without paying the full price, the most natural outcome suggests sheer impunity without due compensation to the society (Fesenko, 2007, p.38). The resulting pollution is termed as a negative externality due to the negative effect it bears. The polluter pays principle challenges this by compelling the polluters to either pay to prevent the occurrence of pollution by their activities or pay to mitigate the pollution in case of an occurrence. This cost should be included in the total cost of goods and services causing pollution. The Pollution Prevention Principle (PPP) should not be meant to be a licence to pollute the environment but rather as a tool to help companies reduce pollution to the environment and bear full responsibility of the same. The PPP was successfully integrated in European Union Environmental Policy and Rio Declaration Agenda to promote international compliance. Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) The ERP objectives are founded on the PPP and are aimed at promoting full polluter commitment by making them take full responsibility of the pollution caused by their product, from manufacture to final disposal. ERP should ensure that all product development stages are done with an inclusion of all the environmental considerations (Dixon, 2003, p.23). ERP has faced numerous challenges in its implementation, especially in the U.S.A. In the 1990s, the government included additional taxation to goods and services that resulted to pollution, a move that was greatly opposed by the industrialists who argued that everybody polluted the environment and therefore the levy should not be used to punish investors. Their argument was valid and therefore the levy was removed, increasing public tax burden instead. The ERP is also designed to regulate electronic waste disposal, which increases, by three – 5-percent a year. This meant that manufacturers are responsible for safe disposal of electronic wastes of their origin. Conclusion The country should continue exploiting its natural resources in a way observing sustainability. That involves scaling up the size of renewable energy investment, most specifically the use of ‘green energy’. Environmental Policy has spawned awareness and a deeper understanding of human-environment symbiotic relationship. Companies that have contributed to pollution have not paid for the impact it has caused. Those who are responsible for environmental pollution should be made to pay. The Earth Summit Principles handed a central role to humans in ensuring sustainable development. It advocates for natural resource exploitation and commitment to proper subsequent waste management practises in a way that it will not cause harm to other countries. All nations are required to cooperate towards eradicating environmental problems in order to pursue a sustainable future with a healthy population. An inclusive approach should be devised when dealing with environmental issues at personal and national level. States are obliged to develop compensation laws that will protect the public from pollution as well as ensure compliance with environmental management policy by all commercial entities in the country. Most importantly, states will resolve their environmental disputes in a peaceful manner by observing international laws stipulated in the United Nations Charter (Dixon, 2003, p.55). It is therefore a collective agreement that nuclear energy dependence has a huge ecological cost in as much as the empirical ideas continues to assure the contemporary world of its safety of practicality of the developments. The Precautionary Principle therefore gives a stronger theoretical understanding of the risks that nuclear reactors still bear at present. This should not be mistaken as a way of killing all nuclear projects even before understanding the cost-benefit analysis. References Asif, M., Muneer T. (2007). Energy supply, its demand and security issues for developed and emerging economies. Renew Sust Energ Rev 11, 1388–1413. Bastmeijer, C. (2008). Theory and practice of trans boundary environmental affect assessment. Leiden: Martinus Nijhoff. Collin, R. (2006). 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