In this thesis, it has been aimed to analyse the efforts undertaken by the European Union (EU) to stimulate and enhance Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM) in the European coastal zone, within the context of the EU Environmental Policy. ICZM was formally accepted in the international community during the 1990s as an alternative to traditional sectoral coastal zone management approaches. It aims to establish an integrated management mechanism among different sectors to minimise resource use conflicts in coastal zones. Sustainable development constitutes the underlying idea of ICZM, the overall goal of which is to achieve sustainable development in coastal zones. Therefore, ICZM is founded on the internationally accepted principles of sustainable development. Chapter 17 of Agenda 21, which is a formal output of the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, made an explicit statement of the need for integrated management of coastal and ocean areas to achieve their sustainability and called the participating nations to take the necessary steps. The EU, being at the forefront of such international developments and embraced sustainable development as a broader policy objective, is devoted to take concerted action in terms of protecting the European coastal zone and fostering ICZM action at the EU and the Member States (MSs) level. Since the early 1990s, the EU institutions began to put substantial effort to achieve this goal, and initiated dedicated actions. Those existing and the foreseen EU actions are elaborated within the context of this thesis. For the time being, the EU ICZM action is a flexible one without a regulatory binding instrument for ICZM. The ongoing EU ICZM action is based upon the existing EU policies and legislation. Within this framework, the central aim of the EU is laid down as to ensure the coordination and integration of these diversified policy objectives and legislative instruments to contribute to sustainable management of the European coastal zone. Since they constitute the backbone of the current EU ICZM efforts, those policies and legislation are also investigated within the scope of this study. This thesis accentuates the importance of concerted EU action in terms of stimulating ICZM action in Europe and the probability of a future EU level devotion towards a more regulatory approach in the longer term.

published_or_final_version / Urban Studies / Master / Master of Social Sciences

This thesis argues that Christian doctrine does not condone environmental destruction (as many believe); rather, Christian doctrine promotes care for the Earth and supports a number of norms which are consistent with the requirements of sustainable development and useful for planning for sustainable development. Discussion begins with an explanation of the importance of norms and beliefs in planning, and proceeds to outline common criticisms of Christian norms and beliefs respecting the environment. These criticisms are considered valid to the extent that blame is placed on destructive practices which often characterize ill-formed social expressions of Christian norms and beliefs; however, these criticisms may be groundless in terms of a good understanding of Christian doctrine. This point provides a basis for examining Christian doctrine more closely, to see whether or not it condones destruction of the ecosphere. Christian doctrine, logical argument, and a review of relevant literature are used to respond to the above mentioned criticisms. Analysis shows that Christian doctrine provides a basis for caring for the Earth and that one should not dismiss Christianity because of misguided attitudes and actions of professed Christians. Nine ecological norms are derived from Christian doctrine. These norms are shown to be consistent with the requirements of sustainable development, and the findings of non-Christian scholars. Usefulness of these norms is demonstrated through a case-study evaluation of the ecological sustainability of Canada's Green Plan (GP). Applying Christian norms to the GP shows that the GP endorses some important environmental initiatives but is rooted in norms and beliefs which contradict each other and are inconsistent with the requirements of sustainable development. Christian norms therefore prove to be helpful in pointing out weaknesses in the GP. Coupled with the facts that Christian theology does not promote environmental destruction, and that Christian norms enjoy the support of non-Christian scholars, the conclusion is that Christianity has been overly criticized respecting the environment and that Christian norms can and should be used to plan for sustainable development.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of California, San Diego, 2006. / Title from first page of PDF file (viewed July 21, 2006). Available via ProQuest Digital Dissertations. Vita. Includes bibliographical references (p. 253-284).

Investigação acerca efetividade de um dos instrumentos da Política Nacional do Meio Ambiente brasileira, que é o da garantia da prestação de informações relativas ao ambiente e da obrigação do Poder Público em produzi-las, quando inexistentes (Lei federal nº 6.938, de 31 de agosto de 1981, artigo 9º, inciso XI). A pesquisa teve como foco o problema da abrangência e eficácia das estruturas normativas e políticas existentes para efetivação desse instrumento. Em se tratando das estruturas normativas, destacam-se além do estabelecido pela Constituição Federal brasileira, os dispositivos da Lei federal nº 10.650, de 16 de abril de 2003, acerca do acesso público aos dados e informações ambientais existentes nos órgãos e entidades integrantes do Sistema Nacional do Meio Ambiente. Para tanto se propôs investigar o que é abrangível nas informações ambientais relacionadas ao instrumento da Política Nacional do Meio Ambiente e sua efetividade no contexto da aplicabilidade do instrumento em estudo da Política Nacional do Meio Ambiente e o que foi efetivamente regulado pela Lei nº 10.650/2003. Entretanto, buscou verificar a possibilidade de não confirmação da hipótese de que o instrumento em foco não carece de mais regramento para sua aplicação em relação aos demais instrumentos. Partindo-se do pressuposto de ser este efetivamente um instrumento concomitante em relação aos demais. Como referenciais teóricos estão alguns princípios do direito constitucional e do direito ambiental, particularmente, os princípios da publicidade e da informação. Assim foram considerados os diversos fundamentos políticos e jurídicos para operação do instrumento estudado, associado que está a direitos e garantias fundamentais implicados, devem ser considerados na perspectiva constitucional. Para avaliar a efetividade da garantia da prestação de informações relativas ao meio ambiente, a que está obrigado o Poder Público a produzi-las, quando inexistentes, foi realizado o estudo de sua hipotética aplicação nos termos vigentes relativamente aos demais instrumentos de política ambiental brasileira de abrangência nacional. / Research concerning the effectiveness of one of the instruments of the Brazilian Environmental National Policy, that is the warranty of rendering the environmental information and the obligation of the authorities in producing them when they nonexistent (federal Law 6.938, of August 31, 1981, article 9th, XI). This research had as focus the problem of the embrace and efficacy of the existent normative and political structures for effectiveness of that instrument. The normative structures are that established by the Brazilian Federal Constitution, the federal Law 10.650, of April 16, 2003, concerning the public access to existing environmental information in the agencies of the Environmental National System. This research intended to investigate the embraceable of the environmental information related to the instrument of the Environmental National Policy. Adding to that, investigate the effectiveness of the studied instrument of Environmental National Policy in the context of this applicability and what was in fact regulated by the Law 10.650/2003. Another point was verifying the possibility of non confirmation of the hypothesis that the instrument in focus does not need more regulation for its application in relation to other instruments. This research assumes that the instrument is concomitant in relation to the others instruments of Environmental National Policy. As theoretical references have some principles of the constitutional right and of the environmental law, particularly, the principle of the publicity and principle of the information. As the several political and juridical bases were considered for the use of the studied instrument, associated to the fundamental rights and warranties, the research considered the constitutional perspective. To evaluate the effectiveness of the warranty of rendering environmental information, which the authorities are obliged to produce when they nonexistent, the study of its hypothetical application related to effectiveness of the other Environmental National Policy instruments was did.

This thesis argues that Christian doctrine does not condone environmental destruction (as many believe); rather, Christian doctrine promotes care for the Earth and supports a number of norms which are consistent with the requirements of sustainable development and useful for planning for sustainable development. Discussion begins with an explanation of the importance of norms and beliefs in planning, and proceeds to outline common criticisms of Christian norms and beliefs respecting the environment. These criticisms are considered valid to the extent that blame is placed on destructive practices which often characterize ill-formed social expressions of Christian norms and beliefs; however, these criticisms may be groundless in terms of a good understanding of Christian doctrine. This point provides a basis for examining Christian doctrine more closely, to see whether or not it condones destruction of the ecosphere. Christian doctrine, logical argument, and a review of relevant literature are used to respond to the above mentioned criticisms. Analysis shows that Christian doctrine provides a basis for caring for the Earth and that one should not dismiss Christianity because of misguided attitudes and actions of professed Christians. Nine ecological norms are derived from Christian doctrine. These norms are shown to be consistent with the requirements of sustainable development, and the findings of non-Christian scholars. Usefulness of these norms is demonstrated through a case-study evaluation of the ecological sustainability of Canada's Green Plan (GP). Applying Christian norms to the GP shows that the GP endorses some important environmental initiatives but is rooted in norms and beliefs which contradict each other and are inconsistent with the requirements of sustainable development. Christian norms therefore prove to be helpful in pointing out weaknesses in the GP. Coupled with the facts that Christian theology does not promote environmental destruction, and that Christian norms enjoy the support of non-Christian scholars, the conclusion is that Christianity has been overly criticized respecting the environment and that Christian norms can and should be used to plan for sustainable development. / Applied Science, Faculty of / Community and Regional Planning (SCARP), School of / Graduate

The master thesis introduces the topic of sustainable development, environmental policy and its tools as a mean of mitigating negative impact of economic activity on environment. The thesis analyzes optional tools of environmental policy as well as Eco-Management and Audit Scheme EMAS. The analytic part studies the motives and expectations of Czech organizations before the registration in EMAS and their fulfilment after implementation. The situation in the Czech Republic and EU member states is being compared and the common trends and variety identified. The output of the thesis is a design of measures for increasing the interest in registration in EMAS.

In this paper, we analyse the effects of a unilateral change in an emissions tax in a model of international trade with heterogeneous firms. We find a positive effect of tighter environmental policy on average productivity in the reforming country through reallocation of labour towards exporting firms. Domestic aggregate emissions fall, due to both a scale and a technique effect, but we show that the reduction in emissions following the tax increase is smaller than in autarky. Moreover, general equilibrium effects through changes in the foreign wage rate lead to a reduction in foreign emissions and, hence, to negative emissions leakage in case of transboundary pollution.

No description available.

Law / Thesis (LL.M.)--University of South Africa, 1997.