CNU

CEBU NORMAL UNIVERSITY

College of Teacher Education-Graduate School

A Reaction Paper in Concepts and Problems in Environmental Management (AEF 6006)

Professor: Dr. Rey A. Kimilat

SEVEN BASIC PRINCIPLES OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT

By Allan S. Adem

We are committed to managing and continually improving our

environmental performance with the overall goal to protect the
environment. We focus on fostering a culture where we take responsibility
for our environmental performance. Through services we may positively affect the environment by
helping others to choose environmental friendly solutions and to operate in an environmentally
friendly manner.
Employees should take increasing responsibility for environmental performance through
awareness programs and activities. In this manner, the organization strives to achieve appropriate
and sustainable approaches. One has no option but to choose environmental friendly solutions
when practicable. If such a solution cannot be found, we shall as far as possible apply the solutions
with the least negative environmental impact. Hence, at least seven guiding principles are
established in incorporating environmental concerns. These principles include:
1. Polluter Pays Principle (PPP)
2. User Pays Principle (UPP) (or resource pricing principle)
3. Precautionary Principle (PP)
4. Principle of Effectiveness and Efficiency
5. Principle of Responsibility
6. Principle of Participation
7. Principle of Proportionality

Polluter Pays Principle (PPP)

Mondal (2016) described about what OECD has suggested that the Polluter Pays principles
(PPP) serves as a general basis for the environmental policy. It states that if measures are adopted
to reduce pollution, the costs should be borne by the polluters. According to the OECD Council,
The principle to be used for allocating costs of pollution prevention and control measures to
encourage rational use of scarce environmental resources and to avoid distortions in international
trade and investment is the so-called Polluter Pays Principle. The essential concern of this principle
is that polluters should bear the costs of abatement without subsidy.

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 Reaction:
The PPP required that the polluter has to bear the cost of complying with environmental
standards, which are predetermined by public authorities. If the polluters have to pay for the
cost of any pollution they cause, market forces will then encourage them to change their
activities either by introducing new pollution control technologies or by switching to more
efficient production process. For instance, everyday individual households, firms and industries
turn-over million tons of tap water into wastewater, which requires proper treatment before
disposal. Prior to the introduction of sewage charges, the cost of sewage collection and
treatment came entirely from the public revenue. The disadvantages of such an arrangement
are that the public is unaware of the cost of the sewage services and therefore has no incentive
to reduce water pollution.

The User Pays Principle (UPP)

Mondal (2016) describes that UPP is considered as a part of the PPP. The principle states
that all resource users should pay for the full long-run marginal cost of the use of a resource and
related services, including any associated treatment costs. It is applied when resources are being
used and consumed. The UPP states that the beneficiaries should pay for the full cost of using the
resources and its related service; the full cost included the cost of losses for future generations.
Both PPP and UPP principle considered as equitable and both offer the prospect of achieving
efficiency.

Reaction:
UPP concept has conflict with certain social objections, example all the home should be
connected to electricity supply, telephone service, sewage and be closed to public transport. The
provision of universal services to all or most location with high marginal costs beyond the reach
of most consumers is conflict with this principle. The resolution of these conflicting principles is a
matter of public policy. However, this principle is more easily applied to the consumer of public
services involving the collection and treatment of effluents.

Precautionary Principle (PP)

Mondal (2016) describes that the main objective of the precautionary principle is to ensure
that a substance or activity posing a threat to the environment is prevented from adversely
affecting the environment, even if there is no conclusive scientific proof of linking that particular
substance or activity to environmental damage. The words substance and activity are the result
of human intervention.
The Precautionary Principle was adopted by the UN Conference on Environment and
Development (the Earth Summit) in 1992. According to Rio Declaration on Environment and
Development Precautionary Principle as meaning that where there are threats of serious or
irreversible damage to environment, lack of scientific certainty should not be used as to
environment for postponing cost-effective measures to prevent environmental degradation.

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 Reaction:
This principle is seeking present and ease environmental stress before conclusive evidence of
damage exists and adopts policy when raw evidence is available. However, this lack of full
scientific certainty shall not be used as a reason for postponing cost-effective measures to
prevent environmental degradation. Therefore, the principle is essential for the protection of
environment and human health by implementing in the field of production and distribution of
energy resources.

Principle of Effectiveness and Efficiency

It is essential that efficiency of resources use may also be accomplished by the use of policy
instruments that create incentive to minimize wasteful use. It also applies to various issues of
environmental governance by streaming processes and procedures in order to minimize
environmental costs. Siddiqui (2014) describes that effectiveness means producing desired results.
So long as a business manager makes effective planning which brings the results in a way that is
wanted, the business will remain in the money. Since it involves making right decisions at the right
time, it is essential for a business manager to do so. Though the term is useful to managerial
positions to a greater extent, it is also applicable to the employees as well. Since the employees
need to take certain decisions within a range permitted to them, they are also supposed to work
with effectiveness. That is to say, their performance should be such that gives the output to the
desired level.
He also adds that being efficient is important to both managers and the employees.
Efficiency indicates using fewer inputs, but producing more outputs. It also means performing the
assigned duties without making mistakes, because the potential mistakes not only spoil the
reputation of a business, but also hinder the progress of a business. It must be borne in mind that
the efficient employee, whether a manager or a subordinate, can perform his duties in a successful
manner that leads a business to get its expected level.

Reaction:
The terms effectiveness and efficiency have a lot to do with a business entity. Every business
stands to attain its predefined goals and objectives while particularly stressing on its ability of
maintaining its survival and profitability constantly. In doing so, the effectiveness and efficiency
counts greatly. On the one hand on the basis of these two terms a business goes to heighten its
level immensely, on the other hand it bears losses in the absence of the results being associated
with effectiveness and efficiency. It is thus essential for a business to maintain effectiveness and
efficiency continuously. What in brief may be construed is that effectiveness is attained by doing
right things, whereas the efficiency is maintained by doing things in the right manner. It would
thus be of great value to maintain both to increase the value of a business entity.

The Principle of Responsibility

In his blog, Pathak (2012) defines responsibility as a state of being accountable or
answerable for any obligation, trust, debt or something or in other words it means obligation to

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complete a job assigned on time and in best way while authority is the power to give orders and get
it obeyed or in other words it is the power to take decisions. Authority and responsibility are closely
related and this principle states that these two must go hand in hand. It means that proper
authority should be delegated to meet the responsibilities.
He describes that this is an important and useful principle of management because if
adequate authority is not delegated to the employees they cannot discharge their duties with
efficiency and this in turn will hamper the achievement of the organizational goal. Sometimes the
relation between management and employees is also badly effected by non-delegation of proper
authority.

Reaction:
It is the responsibility of all persons, corporations and states to maintain the ecological
processes. Further, access to environmental resources carries attendant responsibilities to use
them in an ecological sustainable economically efficient and socially fair manner. There are
positive impacts of this principle like, no misuse of authority, helps to complete job effectively and
efficiently, individuals can be held accountable, and systematized and effective achievement of
organizational objectives.

The Principle of Participation

Martinez in his online write-ups on Laws of Sustainability describes that the principle of
participation is a key governance principle that is highly relevant for conservation and
sustainability. Participation is essential for ensuring accountability. Principle 10 of the Rio
Declaration on Environment and Development states that environmental issues are best handled
with the participation of all concerned citizens, at the relevant level and that each individual
should have the opportunity to participate in decision-making processes. The participation
principle is elaborated in the Aarhus Convention on Access to Information, Public participation in
Decision-making and Access to Justice in Environmental Matters. Participation is an essential factor
in accountability, legitimacy and rule of law.

Reaction:
It is the duty of all the persons to participate in collectively environmental decision-making
activities. Some participation areas are related to the use of trees and other plants, minerals,
soils, fish and wildlife for purposes such as materials and food as well as for consumptive and
non-consumptive recreation. The second issue concerns solid waste i.e. garbage, construction
and demolition materials and chemically hazardous waste etc. The third issue of participation is
related to pollution generating activities.

The Principle of Proportionality

Mondal (2016) states that the principle of proportionality is based on the concept of
balance. A balance is to maintain between the economic development on the one hand and
environmental protection on the other hand. It cannot be disputed that no development is possible
without some adverse effects on ecology. Therefore, it is essential to adjust the interest of the
people as well as the necessity to maintain the environment. Moreover, comparative hardships
have to be balanced and benefits to a larger section of the people have to be maintained.

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 Reaction:
If we are to continue to enjoy the high quality of the natural environment of which we are
stewards and the resulting high quality of life, an environmentally sustainable economic strategy
is required. This strategy must integrate, rather than trade off, environmental, social and
economic interests. It must push for growth and development at the highest and best available
standards and it must change the way we perceive our natural surroundings.

References:

Martinez, C. (nd). Participation principle. Laws on Sustainability. Accessed from

http://www.lawforsustainability.org/legal-principles/participation-principle

Mondal, P. (2016). Environmental management: 7 basic principles of environmental management.

Accessed from http://www.yourarticlelibrary.com/economics/environmental-
economics/environmental-management-7-basic-principles-of-environmental-
management/39722/

Pathak, R. (2012). Principle: Authority and responsibility. Management Diary. Accessed from
https://mgtdiary.blogspot.com/2012/08/principle-authority-and-responsibility.html

Siddiqui, F. (2014). Effectiveness and efficiency - why are they important to a business entity?
Accessed from https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/20140829162438-59817714-effectiveness-
and-efficiency-why-are-they-important-to-a-business-entity