GRID-Arendal : State of the Environment Norway - Waste

Principles of an Environmentally friendly Policy

1. The Precautionary Principle

Give nature the benefit of the doubt. A discharge or emission should be regarded as harmfull untill proven harmless, exploitation of a limited resource should be regarded as unsustainable.
In a situation of high potential risk and lack of, or inadequate information, the concept of precaution requires that the onus of scientific proof be on those who intend to draw benefits from the resource and contend that there is no risk; i.e. reversal of the burden of proof.

2. Critical-Load Principle

The limit of pollution that the natural environment can withstand without becoming permanently damaged. The critical load should not be exceeded.

3. Cradle-to-Grave Principle; life cycle analysis

All stages of the production process are examined with regard to pollution.
Life-cycle analysis from the extraction of the raw material, production process, transport needs, use/consumption to disposal.

4. Polluter-Pays Principle

The natural environment is not free of charge. Industry must be stimulated to take the environment into consideration.
Instruments:

• Concessions
• Economic
• Legal
Taxes are imposed with the aim to steer consumption patterns in an environmentally sound direction: reduced pollution should lead to financial advantage.

5. BAT Principle

"Best Available Technology" - Poor technical solutions are no excuse for pollution if better technology is available.

6 a. Sustainable Development

There is no internationally agreed definition. It may be defined as follows: "Meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs."
(Tradition in Norway: The farm has as many or more resources available every time it is handed over to the next generation.)

6 b. Sustainable Consumption

a. Only renewable resources should be used.
"You live on the interest and leave your savings in the bank".

b. Next level: Recyclable resources.
(0 waste)

c. Next level: Partially recyclable resources.
(Examples: plastic, glass, paper)

d. Next level: Find alternative resources.
(Example: replace copper with glass fibre)

e. Next level: Non-renewable resources.
(Examples: Oil. Metals)
Each generation should make a commitment not to consume more than a given maximum percentage of the resources.