How the dindustry of great London impact on the environment of UK, especially the southern England - Dissertation Example

The paper tells that the rapid growth of industry during 19th century Great Britain drew increasing attention to the fragile link between environmental health risks and industrialisation. During 19th century Great Britain however, environmental safety was tied to public health rather than environmental safety and policies therefore focused on reducing pollutants that posed a risk to public safety. By the 20th century the shift toward emphasizing environmental values became more pronounced and was manifested by policies and practices aimed at managing industrial pollution.

The focus on environmental values has culminated in a global society conscious of the need for sustainable development in industries with a view to reaping economic benefits today, but preserving the environment for future generations. The risk of environmental damages emanating from industrial accidents has also given way to policies relative to emergency response and clean-up practices and policies. London, like the remainder of the UK is subject to a command and control regime promoted by the European Community (EC) Council Directive 2008 for Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control (IPPC).

Research findings indicate that despite the adoption of the command and control policies implicit in Council Directive 2008, the UK continues to suffer from a fragmented and inflexibly applied. However, there has been a growing awareness that some degree of self-regulation is necessary. (West, 2010). It will therefore be argued that officials and firm managers are well aware of the impact of industry on the environment, but are continuing to explore more efficient methods for minimizing the potential for and actual environmental damages.

This research study demonstrates the strengths and weaknesses of the current command and control policies and practices relative to the impact of Great London industry on the UK’s environment by exploring three areas of the literature. The first area sets out the historical background and nature of environmental policies and practices in the UK. The second part analyses the current state of the law, policies of environmental protection as it relates to UK industries. The third area of analysis is the actual impact of Great London industry on the UK’s environment and how practices and policies are informed by history and contemporary environmental laws, practices and policies.

Table of Contents Abstract 2 Table of Contents 3 Chapter One 4 Introduction 4 Aims and Objectives 6 Research Questions 7 Research Methodology 8 Organization of the Study 8 Chapter Two 10 A Review of the Literature 10 Introduction 10 Industrialization and Environmental Risks 10 Conclusion 17 Chapter Three 18 Industrialization and Pollution in London 18 The Industrial Revolution and London’s Environment 18 Contemporary London’s Industry and the Environment 25 Conclusion 31 Chapter Four 33 The Impact of Industrial Activity in Greater London on the Environment in the UK and Especially South East England 33 Conclusion 37 Bibliography 38 Chapter One Introduction Law and policy makers at the international and national levels are continuously seeking ways to reconcile two conflicting objectives: economic growth and development and protection against environmental damages (Cameron & Abouchar, 1991).

Despite efforts aimed at protecting the environment and at the same time, encouraging economic growth and development, concerns persists over the efficacy of balancing these two