The environment provides the most basic sources and resources for the existence of human beings. This also brings the need to protect the environment. Environmental protection means Life protection. Increasing global warming, natural disasters, polluted water, air, and soil, use of pesticides, and many other things are directly or indirectly concerned with the well-being of human beings. The Indian government has taken this seriously and made laws regarding the environment. This has also opened a completely new field of legal studies for law aspirants. To understand the possibility of a career in environmental law, one first has to gain complete information about what environmental law is, how many acts come under them, what are the things and rules this law is concerned with, and how a legal professional can be a part of this field.
Environmental Law:
Environmental law consists of laws, regulation, section, agreement, and provisions related to regulation of human activities concerning the natural environment and ecosystem. India has enacted many laws to control environment pollution and also incorporated notable provisions related to the environment in the Indian constitution. These environmental laws function as safeguard in preventing damage to the environment and ensuring effective management of the environment and its interconnected ecosystem.
Environmental laws are very important as they provide legitimate protection to the humans, plants and animals residing in the ecosystem in which we exist. This law ensures that no individual, government or industries can cause any harm to the environment or ecosystem. These environmental laws are a necessary element for the preservation of wildlife, as its major objective is to protect the environment for future development. The idea of these laws were taken from other countries but later on with the development of India many different and unique factors were included in these laws. Information related to Environmental law in India can be acquired by the best online law certification courses as they provide in-depth knowledge regarding this subject.
Career in Environmental Law:
These environmental laws cover various topics including Air quality, Water quality, waste management, Chemical Safety, Containment Clean up, damage mitigation, and many other things. In order to regulate all these, the requirement for law professionals is also very high, which makes the profession in environmental law very appealing. Also a career in environmental law will give you a diverse opportunity to work with different known national and international personalities and government officials. That’s one of the reasons that many legal learning platforms are providing online law certification courses on Environmental law, to help learners make a successful career in this field of law.
Regulation and Provisions under environmental law:
In India there is a regulatory body for overview of environment related issues and problems, known as the Ministry of Environment and Forest. The government of India has formed many acts and laws regarding the protection of environment, the most important and effective ones are as follows;
Wild life (Protection) Act, 1972:
The act provides protection to wild animals, birds, plants as well as ensures environmental and ecological security. This act extends to the whole India.This act is made up of six schedules which provides different protections and punishments and fines.
Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974:
In order to prevent and control water pollution, this act was enacted in 1974 by the parliament of India. Under this act, the provisions were clear that sewage or pollutant water cannot be discharged in any water bodies including lake, pond or river. The duty of prevention of such activities falls under the state board of pollution control.
Air (Prevention and Control of pollution) Act, 1981:
With the aim of reducing air pollution this act was enacted by parliament in 1981, the main feature of this act was to provide provisions and guidelines to reduce and control air pollution and set up boards in centre and state to carry out proper steps to achieve this goal.
Environmental (Protection) Act, 1986:
After the Bhopal Gas tragedy, the government took initiative to cease this kind of mishappening again in future and enacted the Environmental (Protection) act in 1986. This act was passed under article 253. According to these acts the central government is authorised to protect and improve the environment, control and minimise pollution from all possible sources, and prohibit or restrict the setting of any industries on environmental grounds.
Energy Conservation Act, 2001:
A statutory body was established under this act called “Bureau of Energy Efficiency”. This act was enacted with the aim of providing guidelines for efficient use of energy and its conservation. Under this act, various implementations of programmes and policies related to energy and also energy conservation activities were implemented. Within these act many energy efficient projects were also introduced and curriculum based on these topics were also introduced in the education system.
National Green Tribunal Act, 2010:
Parliament enacted this act for the establishment of a special tribunal, which will be responsible for effective and prompt disposal of cases that are related to forest, environment, and conservation of other natural resources. They are also responsible for enforcing any legal rights regarding the environment.
The Compensatory Afforestation Fund Act, 2016:
Also known as CAF act, this act was introduced in 2016 with regards to funds assembled for Compensatory Afforestation. Compensatory Afforestation means that every time a forest is averted for non- forest motive (i.e mining or industry establishment) the user organisation pays for planting forest over a new equal non forest land. Before the establishment of the act, these funds were managed by the Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority(CAMPA).
To help learners gain more knowledge about the laws and provision related to environmental law, many educational platforms are providing online legal certification courses on Environmental law, these courses are not only beneficial for law aspirants but also for all learners to understand the importance of environmental protection.
In conclusion, many provisions, laws, sections have been introduced with the objective of prevention of the environment, but most important of all its common people who have to take initiative to implement these laws and save the ecosystem and environment in which we live. These environmental laws are very beneficial and strict too. In order to know more information about the environmental law and to convert in profession, there are a number of free online law certification courses to do and acquire more knowledge about the laws.