UVT 2612

Environmental Law
Definition of environment

The environment is everything that isn't me.
Albert Einstein.
The surroundings or conditions in which a
person, animal, or plant lives or operates.
Merriam-Webster Dictionary
The natural environment encompasses
all living and non-living things
occurring naturally on Earth or some region
thereof. It is an environment that
encompasses the interaction of all living
species. (1997). "Meanings of Environmental Terms". Journal of
Environmental Quality 26(3): 581589.

The Relationship


Human < Nature < Earth

A thing is right when it tends to preserve
the integrity, stability, and beauty of
the biotic community. It is wrong when it
tends otherwise Aldo Leopod, A Sand
County Almanac (1949) (p.262).


Theories
Leopolds It is not sufficient to consider
only the interests of humankind and take
no care of ecological equilibrium; rather a
new and more balanced ethics must be
built.
Kenneth E. Goodpaster, From Egoism to
Environmentalism in Ethics and Problems
of the 21st Century Change in attitude
is a must from egoism and chauvinism
towards nature and survive.


Cont

Prof Emeritus Paul W. Taylor As every
living entity is unique and cannot be
replaced, we must respect nature and life.
Albert Schweitzer, A German Philosopher
- A man is ethical only when life, as such,
is sacred to him, that of plants and
animals as that of his fellow men, and
when he devotes himself helpfully to all
life that is in need of help.


Cont

Ancient Chinese Philosophy Dao is
present everywhere. Everywhere on
earth, be it large or small, whether alike
or lifeless, has a reason for existence.
Therefore we should respect to life and
nature and everything on earth should be
treated equally.
But waste not by excess: for Allah loveth
not the wasters (Quran 6:141, Yusuf Ali
translation).


Environmental Issues in Malaysia

Solid Waste Management

Malaysias waste averaging 19, 100 Tons
per day.
The disposal has been done solely through
open landfills, thus resulting in polluted
land, underground water threatening flora
and fauna.
Cont
Water and Wastewater

The most fundamental environmental
issue in Malaysia.
Normal industries, tin mining, palm oil
production and natural rubber are the
traditional Malaysian Industries associated
with water pollution.
Main rivers in Malaysia appear to have
high organic pollution loads.
Cont
Air Pollution

Mobile emission, forest fires and industrial
activities contribute to the issue.
Transboundary pollution Forest fires in
Sumatra and Kalimantan.
Open Burning governed by EQA 1974
Cont
Deforestation

Clearing is the removal of a forest or
stand of trees where the land is thereafter
converted to a non-forest use.
Deforestation causes extinction, changes
to climatic conditions, desertification, and
displacement of populations.
What is the borderline between humanly
needs and preserving the environment?

Cont
Soil Erosion

Human activities have increased by 10-
40 times the rate at which erosion is
occurring globally. Excessive erosion
causes problems such as desertification,
decreases in agricultural productivity due
to land degradation, sedimentation of
waterways, and ecological collapse due to
loss of the nutrient rich upper soil layers.



Species Endangering
Urban Storm Water
Global Warming.