E - Book Chapter (THE POLITICAL, LEGAL AND REGULATORY ENVIRONMENT)

This regulation aims to protect biodiversity around the world. This regulation prohibits activities that damage the environment where protected species live or threaten extinction, such as clearing forests or poaching. 

• Renewable Energy Regulations 

These regulations aim to promote the use of renewable energy sources and reduce the use of fossil fuels. Thus regulation contains national targets for renewable energy products and regulates financial incentives for the use of green technology. 

• Greenhouse Gas Emission Regulation 

This regulation aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and combat climate change. This regulation sets national emission targets and requires employers to monitor and report their greenhouse gas emissions. 

Environmental regulations can vary in scope, both at the national and international levels. This depends on the type of resource to be protected or managed, and various other factors such as the level of economic growth, community culture, available technology, and so on. Therefore, environmental regulations must always be developed and updated to keep up with developments in environmental conditions and community needs. (Kioumoutzoglou dkk., 2021). 

European Union environmental regulation began in the 1970s, when the European Union (EU) started to pay to environmental and sustainability issues. At the time, EU member states began to feel the negative environmental impact of rapid industrialization and economic growth. The European Union (EU) has a strict and comprehensive set of environmental regulations designed to protect the environment and human health from pollution and other negative impacts. This regulation aims to promote sustainable development and minimize the negative impact of human activities on the environment (Borrelli dkk., 2021). 

In 1972 the United Nations (UN) Environment Conference in Stockholm demonstrated global awareness of environmental issues and sustainability. Following the conference, the EU launched a series of initiatives to improve the environment, including the creation of the European Commission for the Environment in 1973. 

In 1985 the EU adopted the first Environmental Action Programme, which provided a framework for integrating environmental policy into all EU policies and activities. The program of Action resulted in a number of laws and regulations, including the EU Air Quality Act 1987 and the EU Waste Management Act 1991. 

In 1997, the European Union signed the Kyoto Protocol, an international agreement aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions and fighting climate change. The Kyoto Protocol later became the basis for the EU Climate Change Act in 2003. Since then, the EU has continued to develop ambitious environmental regulations and sustainability policies, including the Europe 2020 program and the European Union’s Green Deal Strategy. The European Union’s environmental regulations have also influenced many other countries around the world to adopt more stringent environmental; laws and regulations. Some of the main EU environmental regulations include : 

• Air Directive 

This directive Focuses on air quality and includes emissions limits for air pollutants, including particulate matter, nitrogen dioxide and sulfur dioxide. EU member states must report their emission data and impose sanctions if emission limits are violated. 

• Groundwater Directive 

This directive aims to protect the quality of groundwater and ensure that groundwater used for human consumption and agriculture is safe. This directive also sets limits for certain chemicals in groundwater and requires regular oversight and monitoring. 

• REACH Regulation 

This regulation aims to ensure that chemicals manufactured or imported into the EU are well understood and safe for humans and the environment. This regulation requires manufactures and importers to repost information regarding chemicals and to test certain chemicals before they are used in products. 

• Waste Directive