The human race is extensively dependent on the environment. After all, the environment fulfills a man’s basic needs right from food, shelter, and air. Thus, if we wish to lead a happy and healthy existence, it is mandatory for us to take care of our surroundings.
However, in recent times, the environment has constantly fallen prey to multiple environmental threats such as air pollution, water pollution, ozone depletion, global warming, deforestation, and forest fires, among others.
This has led to regulatory authorities coming up with environmental laws and policies to curb such threats. In fact, it is because of such laws and policies that our country has been able to witness a path in the direction of economic growth.
All said and done; awareness is crucial to do our bit for the environment. And, it is always better to start early. With this in mind, we, at Tribhuvan College, have brought forth our Environmental Law and Policy course in Delhi NCR, which has been designed to offer our youth an overview of the national and international framework around which environmental laws and policies are built.
What are Environmental Laws and Policies?
Environmental laws and policies have to do with multiple aspects and agendas that come together with the objective of protecting our environment under every circumstance. Even though these have been around for a while now, it is only in recent times that people have started witnessing the significance of these frameworks.
The thing is that in our country, we are constantly facing environmental threats, which, if gone uncontrolled in the present moment, can lead to a complete standstill. If the situation is not brought under control now, it will not be long before that there will be no traces of the human race left behind. Thus, it is high time mankind understands the situation and begins to abide by these regulations.
Environmental Laws in India
Multiple environmental laws and policies are laid down in India. However, here we have listed the six most common and largely applicable environmental Acts in India.
- The Environment Protection Act, 1986
- The Forest Conversation Act, 1980
- The Wildlife Protection Act, 1972
- Water Prevention and Control of Pollution Act, 1974
- Air Prevention and Control of Pollution Act, 1981
- The Indian Forest Act, 1927
Significance of Environmental Laws and Policies
The need of the hour is to protect and improve the quality of the environment. However, in the absence of a broad framework, it would be impossible to regulate our actions. In order to prevent gaps like these, India has welcomed multiple environmental laws and regulations that cater to different environmental problems.
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Environmental Protection:
As per Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre (IDMC), India ranks fourth as the worst climate induced disaster hit country in the world. There is no surprise that between 2011 and 2020, India was hit by 33 cyclones. We have also been victims of floods and storms.
Thus, it is high time that immediate action is taken in areas like waste management, air pollution, water scarcity, soil degradation, and biodiversity loss. All this and more becomes possible along with on-point streamlining only because of the environmental laws and regulations that bring clarity and transparency to introduce viable corrective measures.
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Optimum Use of Natural Resources:
As a country, India has always been rich in natural resources. Specifically, India has been a reservoir of iron ore, bauxite, manganese, mica, diamonds, natural gas, oil, and chromites.
However, in the name of development, the country has seen its natural resources fast depleting. Moreover, there have been scenarios wherein the country has been forced to import resources that were once in abundance.
Environmental laws have a role to play in this area as well. They speak extensively about natural resources and clearly define “who” can avail of such resources and in “what” proportion. This, in turn, prevents unthought-of use of natural resources and helps prevent their depletion long before they are completely gone.
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Taking Corrective Action:
India’s environmental problems are certainly grave in nature. This only means that we are more of in a now or never kind of situation.
At Tribhuvan College, we sincerely believe that environmental protection becomes easy only when we are aware of the areas that need immediate attention. Many a time, we as responsible citizens of the country do understand the need to take action. However, it is not clear as to how we can help in our individual capacities. It is hence very important that people have an awareness of the applicable laws and regulations.
Furthermore, with industrialization seen as a major cause of environmental degradation, it has become vital for companies to take corrective action as well. Here again, environmental laws and policies come into play. These regulations offer a blueprint to companies, which now become more aware of areas where their production processes can be altered in harmony with our surroundings.
At Tribhuvan College, we aim to make our students more aware of the needs of the environment so that they can tweak their actions accordingly. This is not it! We lay equal emphasis on our students educating people in their social circles about how they might be causing harm to Mother Nature. This is a little attempt from our side to contribute to the environment with both direct as well as indirect knowledge distribution.
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Facing the Heat of Penalties:
A general human tendency is that we do not accept change unless and until we are aware of the consequences. Moreover, we fear facing the heat of our actions and act in line with the regulations to avoid stern action.
A similar philosophy is applicable in this area as well. When environmental laws and regulations are laid down, corresponding penalties are also pre-decided.
Individuals and organizations have to abide by these regulations. Failure to do so is likely to attract penalties in different forms. For instance, in the case of The Environmental Protection Act, 1986, there is only one type of penalty/punishment. This policy clearly states that any breach of rules is punishable with imprisonment for a term of 5 years or a fine of up to INR 1 lakh, or both.
We are very much certain that none of us would like to find ourselves in the above situation, which makes it necessary to follow the environmental laws, and indirectly contribute to the planet.
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Sensitizing the Masses:
As discussed, India has multiple environmental issues to deal with. As such, irrespective of the medium we choose, it is almost impossible to reach out to the individual group of people and sensitize them on the many issues.
Moreover, even if it becomes possible to reach out to the masses at once, there are going to be logistical and communication problems in case any of these groups has any questions.
Thus, an ideal way out is to opt for a mechanism that different groups can have access to at different points in time. Similarly, if they are enveloped by any queries or questions, it should become possible for them to go back to the mechanism and find answers.
Here again, environmental laws and regulations have proved to come in handy. Moreover, amendments, if any, can also be easily accessed, as this is a reliable and authentic mass medium.
At Tribhuvan College, a renowned institute offering Environmental Law and Policy Course in Delhi NCR, we believe that when people have an awareness of all these laws and regulations along with the amendments, they do not just act as the medium to educate others but also feel more driven to keep pouring efforts towards bringing about the much-desired change.
Role of Environmental Regulations and Policy Implementation in Economic Growth
Economic Growth is basically concerned with an increase in the amount of goods and services produced per head of the population over a period. Such growth is usually measured in nominal or real terms.
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Economic growth is hampered by lack of natural resources:
For sustainable economic growth, it becomes important to tap on the available natural resources. Since environmental laws and policies clearly define the ambit of natural resources and lay down clear guidelines on who can use them and in what quantity, they become the building block of economic growth.
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Economic growth suffers due to poor environmental quality:
Poor environmental quality has a negative impact on economic growth as it reduces the quality of resources, which in turn hamper productivity levels and outcomes. Alongside, it creates health hazards, which have an impact on economic growth as well. In the presence of environmental laws and policies, environmental quality can be maintained and economic growth ascertained.
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Economic growth is affected by increased population:
It is a known fact that the young population is the real asset of any country. Moreover, economic growth has a great deal to do with the ability of this young population to increase its productivity. Thus, even though many believe that increase in population could aid economic growth, the fact remains that most of the population is redundant and have no role to play in growth. Population policies have indeed cleared the air.
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Economic growth is not possible in a polluted environment:
Air pollution has become an area of major concern in India. It has been observed that air pollution has led to multiple health hazards, which, in turn, reflect in terms of increased medical bills and higher absenteeism.
A direct impact of this is on the level of productivity, which we understand as the country’s economic growth. With environmental laws throwing light on the need to curb air pollution on an immediate basis, there are hopes to continue witnessing economic growth in India.
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Economic growth is threatened by climate change:
As per the Swiss Re Institute, climate change can possibly wipe up to 18% of the GDP off the worldwide economy by 2050 if the global temperature rises by 3.2 °C. Moreover, due to climate change, companies involved in the manufacturing and production industry may have to deal with uncertainties. A common uncertainty is with respect to the price of production, energy transport, and insurance.
Thus, it is clear that if gone unnoticed, climate change can affect economic growth. From this, it is understood that it is because of the presence of various environmental regulations and policy frameworks that we have been able to fight climate change to our best abilities.
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Economic growth has been impacted by deforestation:
Deforestation, which has to do with purposeful clearance of forested land often comes in the way of economic growth. Mindless deforestation deprives a country of its natural resources. Moreover, what is left behind is grassland, which does not reap any results.
By protecting widespread deforestation, environmental laws and regulations are contributing to the economic growth of India.
The Takeaway – Environmental Policies Do Have a Role to Play in Economic Growth!
Even though people have been divided on their opinions as far as environmental laws and policies are concerned, one thing is pretty clear, i.e., in the long run, there is no doing without these.
For any country, including India, to survive, sustain, and provide for every living being, economic growth is necessary. Over the years, we have seen a dip in economic growth mainly because of the negligence that was exercised in taking care of the environment.
With environmental laws and policies now clearly defined, this area is being taken care of really well!
In fact, a glimpse through the above write-up should make it clearly evident how these regulations have contributed to the economic growth of our country today and how they will continue to do so in the future.
At Tribhuvan College, we firmly believe that as responsible citizens of our country, we must be aware of these policies and framework. This especially holds true for the youth, who are all set to become the leaders of tomorrow. This is the key reason why we, at Tribhuvan College, have worked towards creating an educational program that’s environment inclusive and conducive to environmental protection and harmony. Apart from conducting Environmental Law and Policy course in Delhi NCR, we have also introduced a Bachelors in Ecology, Environment, and Water Management program for all those aspiring minds willing to learn about the subject.
Hence, if you are concerned about Mother Nature and wish to bring about change while also carving a career along the same lines, then sign-up for these courses and take steps towards creating a wholesome environment