In ecological developments, environmental policy considers the focus of an organization towards regulations, mechanisms or laws that concern issues that have implication on the environment. For instance maintenance of biodiversity, management of ecosystems, waste, pollution, natural resource, wildlife and endangered species protection have been established. As well, energy and toxic substances regulation policies have been enacted so as to prevent the hazardous effects on the natural resources and biophysical environment (Kusek, 2004). However, the policy should act directly in overseeing human activities to prevent the negative changes on the other people and the environment. Such a move indicates that environmental policies are focused on problems that arise from human implication on the environment that affects the human society and values, which translates to a negated social and economic development.
Though, the rationale of environmental problem arises from the failure of the government to intervene in the actions or a person or an organization causing the tragedy, like a factory dumping its effluents directly into a flowing river contaminating its waters (Crabbe and Leroy, 2008). The impact of such an act is likely to be felt by the society as a whole by engaging in treatment before use, which increases the cost of water consumption. In such regard, the marginal cost of preventing contamination and protection of the environment from degradation is estimated to be greater than the personal marginal benefit, while the social cost lower than social benefit. Therefore, it implies that the problems of the commoners are likely to increase where there is no governmental policy to regulate the actions of different contributors in the environment. Thus notifies the significance in controlling the contribution of humans in the surrounding.
The government and associated environmental agencies utilize different tools in the implementation of the environmental policies. For instance, market-based instruments and economic incentives to promote effective compliance with the stipulated environmental policy enable the protection of natural resources and management. Such an approach is likely to improve the transparency of human activities in regards to environmental statistics and accrued benefit to regular business performances (Birabaum, 2009). Besides, bilateral agreements can be formulated between private firms and the government towards mitigation of the possible hazards, or collude to form a policy that addresses various concerns on the population.
In such a case, the flexibility of the system will be realized encouraging compliance and reduce uncertain costs that could be incurred by the people. However, the formulation of the policies should take into personal account status to avoid undermining each other or creating cost-ineffective approach (Fay, 2012). The formulating body should also ensure that the formulated systems do not overlap to reduce the unnecessary administration costs that will increase the overall implementation cost by engaging in data collection to estimate the effectiveness and consequence of every policy. Such a consideration will enhance economic and social developments in the community through involvement of environmental bodies in evaluating the progression of the implementation process towards achieving a sustainable environment.
As well, environmental impact assessments (EIA) programs have been instituted in analyzing the social and economic effects of the environment. However, environmental policymakers do often engage in making rational decisions dependent on benefits of the policy, or irrational decisions can also be instituted to prevent possible uncertainties. Besides, the concept of environmental policies involves the integration of social and economic objectives into other fields, like agriculture, transparent, and energy sectors, which can be challenging due to global regulations and personal needs. Such a move is integral in the development of sustainable developments in the realization of environmental policy integration. Furthermore, the increase in environmental practitioners throughout the world has been enhanced in the surrounding. On the contrary, inadequate procedures for the implementation of the policies vary in the formulation of standards for the development of the sustainable environment.
Though, in the critical evaluation of active development goals, national and international reviews are incorporated into the study to promote the effectiveness of the policy implementation program (Berg, 2014). In the assessment of the problems related to the socio-economic objectives, the environmental indicators are monitored to complement on the learning and adaptive features. In such a provision, an individual understands the programs initiated in the attainment of the Millennium Development Goals (MDG) in addition to the manner in which they should be agendas should be monitored to achieve efficiency.
Although, various conceptions are associated with the implementation of the environmental policies considering the social and economic costs than the benefits that the community will gain in the long-term. For instance, the governmental agencies can decide on regulating the number of fishers in the lake to prevent overfishing that the may be disputed by the residents. More so, reflections on the equity of environmental policies can enhance evaluations that assist in addressing concerns of complex sustainability issues and achievement. On the same note, developing national policy is essential in evaluative thinking to make formed consequences on the socio-economic system established, which influences capacity building (UNEP, 2012). Therefore, the development agendas in the national evaluation systems are critical for the attainment of projects, programs, and policies that are environmentally friendly. Such initiatives are likely to progress despite the challenges encountered in development evaluation capacities, like environmental policies, institutional processes, and involvement of public participations.
Consequently, the reflection of the environmental policies based on a particular problem is associated with sustainable development. However, the analysis of the diversification of the human interactions and the natural world in different cultures enhances ecological, social, mental and economic effects. Such a consideration has been accelerated with the development of various theories that deal with the environmental justice and overall health implication towards the realization of a stabilized society. I such regards, the development of a suitable environmental policy would impact on various benefits in the community and the surrounding. For instance, prevention of the disposal of industrial wastes in a flowing will have social and economic benefits to the surrounding community and the aquatic life, though the organization will have to incur costs. Thus, the implementation of environmental policy is indispensable for the accomplishment of effective ecological growth.
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