Improving environmental standards

Description

Improving environmental standards involves establishing and enforcing stricter regulations, guidelines, and best practices to reduce pollution, conserve resources, and protect ecosystems. This strategy targets specific problems such as air and water contamination, hazardous waste, and habitat destruction by setting measurable limits, promoting cleaner technologies, and ensuring compliance through monitoring and penalties. Its practical intent is to safeguard public health, sustain biodiversity, and foster long-term environmental resilience through continuous assessment and adaptation of standards.

Implementation

This strategy features in the framework of Agenda 21 as formulated at UNCED (Rio de Janeiro, 1992), now coordinated by the United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development and implemented through national and local authorities.

Agenda 21 recommends enforceable, effective laws, regulations and standards based on sound economic, social and environmental principles and appropriate risk assessment, incorporating sanctions designed to punish violations, obtain redress and deter future violations.