Environment policy is one of the greatest social challenges faced by governments and Businesses today. This is due to the rise in awareness of the impact of the environment on public health and welfare. The need for environmental conservation gave rose to a series of Community initiatives internationally. The European Union, however, was criticized for putting trade interests before the need for environmental conservation. In response to this criticism, the Treaty on European Union upgraded concern for the environment to a community policy rather than merely a community action. Steps in the direction of Conservation were taken by the EU as early as 1967. Chemical legislation is one of the oldest in the EU. In 1967 EU adopted the directive on the classification, packaging and labeling of dangerous substances with the main aim of protecting the environment and improving public health conditions.
[...] It endeavored to create a comprehensive strategy for protecting the environment and natural resources in the European Community. Focus shifted from pollution control to pollution prevention and the concept of environmental protection was broadened to include land-use planning and the integration of environmental concerns into other EC policies. The plan emphasized the pros and cons of environmental policies with respect to the internal market and established a link between the markets and environmental policies. These policies thus became the key drivers for market activities. [...]
[...] Environmental taxes The European Commission encouraged the imposition of environmental taxes by States. Taxes were imposed on pollutant emissions and on products such as pesticides or gasoline. The amount of revenue collected was to be used to fund particular activities related to protection of the environment. B. The Structural Funds and EIB (European Investment Bank) The Structural Funds were intended to promote development of all European regions to avoid large gaps in wealth. Since 1993, they were more closely related to the environment. [...]
[...] Environment conservation and business in the European un The European law has established the ‘polluter pays' principle, meaning that those responsible for pollution must cover the costs for its disposal. The objective of this principle was to make sure that companies take into account the costs to society posed by environmental damage and include it into their production costs. This principle was implemented in 2004 with the adoption of a directive on environmental liability to repair damage caused to the environment. [...]
[...] A link is thus established between the environment and the European objectives for growth, competitiveness and employment The Climate change The objective was to reduce the emissions of greenhouse gas emissions to a level which would not cause any artificial changes in the climate of the earth. In 2002, the EU ratified the Kyoto Protocol and agreed to achieve its objectives. The EU intends to ensure a reduction in the emission of greenhouse gases by 2008 - 2012 as compared to the levels in 1990. [...]
[...] It also attempts to define a strategy on air pollution Sustainable use of natural resources and waste management The objective was to ensure that the consumption of renewable and non- renewable resources does not exceed what the environment can support, and to see a reduction in the amount of wastes by 20% by 2010 and 50% by 2050. Actions suggested to achieve these results include the development of strategies for the improvement of existing waste management. The sixth EAP was broadly based on efforts to include the environmental considerations into all EU policies. [...]
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