ABSTRACT
This chapter covers three distinct areas, namely:
Principles – this section explores the agreed ‘fundamentals’ on which international and most national policy relating to environment and sustainability are based. These include the polluter pays principle, the preventative approach, the precautionary principle, best available techniques, producer responsibility, lifecycle thinking and best practicable environmental option.
Instruments – this section explore the tools or approaches used by the international community and, more commonly, national governments to translate policy into action. Four somewhat overlapping categories of instruments are considered – legal, fiscal, market- based and education/ awareness measures. The section concludes with a consideration of the pros and cons of non- legal instruments.
Policy examples – while international, European and UK policies are referenced in some detail in Chapter 3, some examples of policy initiatives are summarised here in relation to key global environmental challenges.
