Human Response: A society's reactions to its environmental issues
Mongolia: Policy without Implementation
The Ministry of Nature and Environment was established in Mongolia in 1987. It has many goals, including reducing air, soil, and water contaminants; broadening reforestation activities, rehabilitating mines, and conserving water resources. While these goals directly address the major problems in the country, little has been done to achieve them.
In the last 20 years, over 33 major environmental laws have been enacted. These include the Law on Air, the Law on Solid Waste and the Law on Natural Plants. According the the United Nations Development Program, the legislation has too many gaps and the country has insufficient resources and technologies to actually enforce the laws. The ministry and other supporting bodies suffer from lack of qualified personnel as well.
For the lack of true progress in the country, I give Mongolia a 4 for human response.
In the last 20 years, over 33 major environmental laws have been enacted. These include the Law on Air, the Law on Solid Waste and the Law on Natural Plants. According the the United Nations Development Program, the legislation has too many gaps and the country has insufficient resources and technologies to actually enforce the laws. The ministry and other supporting bodies suffer from lack of qualified personnel as well.
For the lack of true progress in the country, I give Mongolia a 4 for human response.
Israel: Desalinization and Air Policy
To combat its water crisis, Israel has begun construction on five desalinization plants in the country. These plants draw water from the Mediterranean Sea and take it through the process of reverse osmosis, removing the salt so it is fit to drink. When completed, these plants will produce 750 million cubic meters of potable water, which is more than the yearly household consumption for the country. These plants also require less energy than thermo-based technologies in Saudi Arabia.
Israel has also passed a series of legislation that will regulate the amount of emissions and reduce pollution in the air. The Clean Air Law was passed in 2008, but just came into effect in January of 2011. It requires large industrial plants to have emission permits, data to be published on emission rates, and stricter penalties to be enforced. It also will establish a national plan to reduce air pollutants in the future.
For these two actions that address their two major environmental problems, I give Israel an 9 for human response.
Israel has also passed a series of legislation that will regulate the amount of emissions and reduce pollution in the air. The Clean Air Law was passed in 2008, but just came into effect in January of 2011. It requires large industrial plants to have emission permits, data to be published on emission rates, and stricter penalties to be enforced. It also will establish a national plan to reduce air pollutants in the future.
For these two actions that address their two major environmental problems, I give Israel an 9 for human response.
