Question

Come up with a hypothetical scenario, illustrating the legal concepts of environmental law. There are no right or wrong answers, but for your own learning purposes, try to precisely and explicitly identify specific legal concept(s) by name and provide examples to support whatever points you make. 100 words or more

Answer 1

Ans. Environmental laws pertain to different aspects like protection of ambient air and its quality from deterioration, protection and conservation of water quality and its content. Environmental laws also deal with the protection of forests and wild animals and thus biodiversity. Broadly it also supports maintenance of sustainable development.

The first environmental law was put forth in the year 1899 entitled the Rivers and Harbors Act. It is related to the conservation of water and its preservation. It was later amended as the Clean Water Act of 1972. Then came up the Clean Air Act, which is meant to preserve the quality of air, by restricting the emissions rates and their sources. Another significant act is the Endangered Species Act which came into being in 1973. It aimed to protect the flora and fauna of the earth along with preservation of their habitats. Habitat destruction, deforestation, commercial use of animals for their products, poaching and other allied activities are responsible for biodiversity laws. So this law was promulgated in the United States to preserve the existing ones and the endangered, vulnerable animals and plants. This is crucial since they form an integral part of the ecosystem. The United States National Environmental Protection Act (NEPA) came into being in 1970 which aimed to keep the environment and to take up every possible measures to maintain the homeostasis within. It showed people the environmental degradation and the potent sources and envisioned to help stabilize the environment.