Topic-Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation
6) Poor implementation of environmental laws is a global concern. Discuss with a special focus on India. (250 words)
Why this question
The recent UN report highlights the issue of poor enforcement of environmental laws across the globe. It is therefore important to discuss the topic in detail.
Directive word
Discuss- this is an all-encompassing directive which mandates us to write in detail about the key demand of the question. we also have to discuss about the related and important aspects of the question in order to bring out a complete picture of the issue in hand.
Key demand of the question.
The question wants us to write in detail about the poor implementation of environmental laws across the globe.
Structure of the answer
Introduction– write a few introductory lines about the recent UN report. E.g The world fares poorly on implementation of environmental laws and regulations despite the fact that 38 times more green laws have been framed and approved in the last four decades, says the United Nations (UN) in its first ever global assessment of environmental laws.
Body-
Discuss how the environmental laws are not being implemented sincerely, across the globe and especially in India. E.g
- Like the Water Act, which was implemented in 1974, a number of laws and regulations have been existing for more than four decades now, but are proving to be ineffective.
- We are perfect in the policy department but implementation is a problem. We have weak deterrents. The systems of accountability have been weakened, so monitoring is a huge problem.
- Coal-based power plants continue to be the major source of air pollution in the country as more than 300 coal thermal power plants still violate emission standards
- More than two-thirds of the states/union territories in the country have neither bothered to comply with the orders passed by the Supreme Court, nor complied with the directions given by the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change (MoEF&CC).
- In a scenario where the judiciary is already struggling to clear the existing backlog of over 21,000 environment-related cases, lack of respect and poor implementation of the judiciary’s orders only provides an explanation for degraded environment we live in.
- Poor coordination across government agencies, weak institutional capacity, lack of access to information, corruption and stifled civic engagement are the key factors behind the poor effectiveness and implementation of environmental regulations etc.
Conclusion– based on your discussion, form a fair and a balanced conclusion on the given issue.
