DEFRA and Environmental Protection - Case Study Example

www.defra.gov.uk Table of Contents Table of Contents 2 Introduction to DEFRA and Environmental Protection 3 Method ment: 4 Findings: 5 Air quality 5 2- Chemicals 7 3- Water issues 9 4- Land: Soil 11 5- Climate change and energy 13 6- Pollution Prevention and Control (PPC) 16 Conclusion 17 References 17 Figure 1 image is available at: www.defra.gov.uk  DEFRA Introduction to DEFRA and Environmental Protection Why we need Environmental Protection? At home and at job we all value the environment. It is where we exist, where we job and it offers us with important goods and services. It is significant that we look after and improve this precious resource not just for ourselves but for as well future generations. I will explain the key aims of the DEFRA (Department of the Environment, Food and Regional Affairs) that should be further effectual at making sure conformity; enhanced at protecting the atmosphere and environment; and enhanced at leveling the playing grounds for those who fulfill with the law. Now I will explain how this Environment Agency established and how they started work. The Environment Agency was established in the year 1995 by the Environment Act and turned out to be fully operational on 1 April 1996. The organization is a Non Departmental Public Body of the Department for Food and Rural Affairs, Environment and an Assembly supported Public organization of the National Assembly for Wales. It pays approximately 13,000 employees and in 2006/07 had an equipped financial statement of about £1.002bn, of which £603m grant was from the Agencys supported Government Departments. 1 The Agencys major aim is to preserve and expand the environment and to create an involvement towards the aim of attaining sustainable development. In hold up of this plan, the Agency has a broad variety of functions which comprise: Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control Integrated Pollution Control Radioactive Substances Regulation Water Quality Land Quality Water Resources Flood Risk Management Navigation Conservation Recreation Fisheries Waste Management Method statement: Here I this section I will present how I have undertaken this research. First of all I will present the main selection regarding environmental research topics; I have tried to select the interrelated topics, so that it became easy for me to explain them and have better understanding for the reader. Six environmental research topics I have selected are given below: 1. Air quality 2. Chemicals 3. Climate change & energy 4. Land: soil & contamination 5. Pollution prevention & control 6. Water issues First of all I visited the DEFRA’s home page at www.defra.gov.uk then selected “Environmental Protection” for research. I have tried to gather quality and data which emphases on the DEFRA efforts and main development regarding Environmental Protection. I have visited almost every link for each Environmental Protection topic. Here below the list of additional documents that I have studied to carry out this research: Findings: This section contains the detailed study of the each Environmental Protection topic that I have selected. There are six sub sections in this section to elaborate each topic. 1- Air quality What is Air Pollution? There are a lot of dissimilar kinds of air pollutant. These pollutants have diverse consequences on our health and our surroundings. Other contaminants or pollutant mixtures upset the natural equilibrium of acidity and nitrogen in the atmosphere /environment which would be able to influence the variety of species in sensitive regions. Other contaminants can add to changing universal circumstances and potentially provide increase to dramatic transforms in climate and sea level. This section discusses the DAEFRA efforts there management to control and manage air quality across the United Kingdom. The UK administration and the devolved management published the most recent Air Quality Strategy for Wales, England, Scotland and Northern Ireland in 17 July 2007: setting out a system for effort and development on air quality matters and the air quality standards and aims to be attained, introducing novel policy framework for undertaking fine particles and recognizing probable novel national policy procedures which modeling significantly could provide additional health profit and progress closer towards getting the Strategy’s objectives In this part I will discuss the Air Quality Strategy that UK administration published the most recently on Air Quality Strategy for Scotland, Wales, England and Northern Ireland, at 17 July 2007 which can also be obtainable at Cmd paper No 7169.  The Strategy: specifies a way forward for work and planning on air quality matters specifies the air quality standards and objectives to be attained brings in a novel policy framework for tackling fine particles Recognizing potential new national policy events which modeling indicates could provide additional health reimbursements and go closer towards meeting the Strategy’s objectives. How relevant to the engineering discipline? After these studies we can view this discipline can be related to engineering discipline in many ways. Local Government and DEFRA require useful and more reliable methods and tools to measurer the Air Quality. We can say these Air Quality indicators. So we can conduct a research to bring in better and efficient working Air Quality indicators those have ability to measure the air quality, its particles range and types and lot of other unction. 2- Chemicals Here I this section I will discuss the Defras policies and aims to cut down the dangerous chemicals those are damaging to human and ecological health and also harmful for the environment. Defras chemicals policies and strategies indicate the source of information on what the Government is doing to guard /protect the atmosphere and environment and, as a result, how human health can improve, by fighting against the risks pretended by disclosure to dangerous chemicals. All at once, the Government plans to maximize the significant socio economic paybacks that we depend on chemicals for. Whether a chemical symbolizes a risky or not stays on its scientific properties. Defras work is to administer the dangers connecting to such dangers that is, the probability of a hazard primary to the damage of humans or the surroundings and environment. The chemicals we utilize are not immediately originated in laboratories. They are all approximately around us on a daily basis. Plus their occurrence is throughout the nature; chemicals are in our food, in our clothes and are built into our homes. This is why the triumphant control of the utilization of chemicals is such a significant goal. In this section I will discuss the Specific Chemical issues that Government is addressing through Defras work. The Government is addressing present concerns regarding matters relating to precise chemicals or groups of chemicals. For this purpose they have developed a policy to identify and restrict specific groups of chemicals. Those are discussed below: Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs): The Stockholm conference on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) entered into strength on 17 May 2004. It is an international agreement signed by 151 nations with the aim to defend human health and the ecological environment from a variety of chemicals known as persistent organic pollutants or POPs. The UK approves the agreement on 17 April 2005. POPs are a group of chemicals which stick with in the environment, may be bioaccumulation in foodstuff and human tissues and are dangerous and toxic. These chemicals have also the possibility to be transported extensive distances and deposited far away from their position of discharge counting immaculate environments like that the Arctic. The UK Chemicals Strategy: The UK Chemicals policy was initiated in December 1999 to address increasing anxieties regarding the competence of accessible legislation to tackle the hazard from chemicals. This set out a technique for voluntary action in the UK. Mercury: UK restrictions on promotion of mercury in influenced measuring devices. Following recommendation from the UK Chemicals Stakeholder Forum, the administration is positive industry to take voluntary action to decrease the dangers to the environment from octylphenols, nonylphenols, and their ethoxylates. How relevant to the engineering discipline? This discipline relates a lot to our engineering discipline. We can try to have some ways to reduce the use of dangerous chemicals by inventing more better and non hazardous chemical in that place. Or there can be some research held to decreases the hazardous effects of those chemical who are dangerous. So there is lot of exposure in this field and our engineering discipline. 3- Water issues Defra deals with all features of water plan in England, as well as water supply and assets and the regulatory systems for the water location and the water manufacturing. These comprise drinking water quality, the superiority of water in coastal, rivers, lakes and estuaries and marine waters; manure treatment; and reservoir protection. Defra efforts directly with the environment organizations those handle water resources and implements water excellence standards, the Drinking Water Inspectorate, which controls the feature of drinking water, and of water that is accountable for financial regulation of the water industry. Defra’s Water strategy: (Future Water) The Defra and Government started its novel water policy for England, Future Water on 7 February 2008. The policy sets out a structure for water management in England. This comprises: sustainable deliverance of safe water supplies an superior and confined water atmosphere Reasonable, inexpensive and cost-reflective water charges Compact water sector greenhouse gas release Additional sustainable and effectual management of surface water Now I will discuss an important issue regarding water management and I will explain how Defra has tackled problems related to this. Flood and Coastal Erosion Risk is an important topic for any country. Anybody who has undergoes by flooding or coastal erosion will give evidence to the pressure, commotion and sadness that be able to be reasoned as well as the physical risk and hammering. In gratitude of this and the critical power of rivers in flood, Defra takes the danger extremely critically and is working hard with the Environment Agency to decrease risk. Roles and Responsibilities: Defra has in general policy responsibility for flood and coastal erosion risk in England. Defra finances most of the Environment organizations flood administration activities in England and presents funding support on a project by project foundation to the other flood and coastal protection operating authorities. Defra’s strategy is taking a holistic technique to administration of risk from all shapes of flooding (surface run-off, river, coastal, groundwater, and sewer) and coastal corrosion, seeking to make sure the program helps transport sustainable development. How relevant to the engineering discipline? This environmental topic is also related to our engineering discipline. We can develop some methods to enhance the water quality so that the problem of water contamination can be solved. There are so many ways to do this but by advancement of new industry there are many chemical now added to water. Old and traditional ways to handle those hazards are not work able now. So we have to develop such new methods to reduce this contamination and enhance the quality of the water, 4- Land: Soil In this section I will present a complete introduction of Land and Soil problem that have risen in recent year, and the Defra’s actions to tackle these problems. At the EU Environment Council meeting on 20 December 2007, Environment Ministers were not capable to turn up at political agreement on European Commission suggestions for an EU Soil structure Directive. It will remain unclear, if additional effort on these suggestions will take place. The Framework Directive was projected on 22 September 2006 when the European Commission established the Thematic Strategy for Soil Protection. Soil Protection Program: Soil research is conceded out by many organizations, frequently as portion of applied Program with objectives that disagree from dropping the lean of the Tower of Pisa to growing the species diversity of chalk grassland on the South Downs. Defra requires proof to make a decision for the most excellent means of monitoring soil excellence, to hold up soil defense plans and to observe the impact on soil excellence of ensuing changes in management. To care for soils we require enough evidence on the purposes they carry out for civilization and appraisals of the intimidation that they face. The Soil Protection Program commissions the important R&D strengthen this strategy development. Five appraisal units build up the Soil Protection Program: Impacts of sewage sludge on soil quality Soil erosion Soil management, indicators and quality Soils in the built environment Soil resources: strategic underpinning for soil science Effects of sewage sludge on soil quality: Effort under this unit provides the confirmation Defra requirements to strengthen long term security of the national soil resource and anticipation of contamination consequential in scratch to human, animal or soil condition as a consequence of dispersion sewage sludge to land. Land- soil and contamination Now I will enplain Defras work on soil, and on contaminated land. These topics are intimately interlinked, with soil contamination being one of the varieties of threats to soil. This relationship is as well mirrored at European Union level, beneath the Thematic Strategy for Soil Protection, as well as proposals for a Soil Framework Directive. Soil Soil strategy deals with a lot of different features of soil, as well as the functions that soil execution and how we are able to address the a variety of threats to soil. Internally, the First Soil accomplishment strategy for England (that was published in May 2004) underpins this region of Defras effort. In Europe, the European Commission has in print a thematic policy for Soil Protection, together with suggestions for a Soil Framework Directive. How relevant to the engineering discipline? This field requires a lot of work to have a better theory and way to handle this on going Land and Soil contamination. We can develop more enhanced tools and ways to detect and as well as the ways to counter this emerging global problem. Developing industries are production wastes that are contaminating our soil and land day by day. We can develop such martial that can used in place of those dangerous chemical and also we can develop methods to cut this contamination. 5- Climate change and energy In this section I will explain the Climate change: and also present according to Defra‘s point of view what is climate change? How it happing? How to tackle it? And policy they have made to defend the climate changes and emerging energy usage. Climate transforms have an effect on all of us, and we are able to be part of the solution. Climate refers to the regular weather experienced over a extended period. These comprise temperature, airstream and rainfall samples. The weather of the Earth is not fixed, and has altered a lot of times in reply to an assortment of natural reasons. The Earth has warmed by 0.74°C in overload of the previous hundred years. Around 0.4°C of this warming has happened since the 1970s. Climate transform is the most environmental confront facing the world nowadays. Growing universal temperatures will bring transformation in weather blueprints mounting sea levels and augmented incidence and strength of tremendous weather. The property will be sensed in the UK; worldwide there may be rigorous troubles for people in areas that are mainly vulnerable. We are acting at the present to become accustomed to climate transform and to decrease the risk by causative fewer to the causes. New Department of Energy and Climate Change by UK Government The administration has confirmed momentous transforms to the responsibilities of Defra, and to BERR, in proclaims the formation of an innovative Department of Energy and Climate Change. You can also have more details on this DECC’s website. Climate change: What we are doing in the UK and Defra Save Energy, ACT ON CO2, Save Money: the administration has announces a package of extended expression support to households to support them undertake growing energy cost and save up to £300 each year on power bills, in the course of enhanced energy competence and other measures. UK Climate Change Program: the 2006 Program is the UK’s main policy for its work on undertaking climate transform.  It specifies the strategies and measures which the UK is employing to cut its release of greenhouse gases.  It as well explains how the UK strategy to adjust to the impacts of climate transforms. Carbon Reduction Commitment: for enormous commerce and public sector organizations - schools to be integrated; planned system wide alteration proclaim Funding for Low Carbon Technologies: The Environmental Transformation finances has been greater than before to £400m over the subsequently three years; the first set of methods to be funded by Defras share of the novel joint Defra/BERR support has been proclaimed The Office of Climate Change (OCC) efforts transversely Government to support the expansion of climate transform strategy and policy. Defra is individual of the OCC’s main partner departments. The OCC moreover works directly with DFID, FCO, HMT, BERR, DFT, and CLG. How relevant to the engineering discipline? Now days research to hold up the development of the policy answers to man-made climate change is on high extend. Global warming is biggest problem now days. We can develop such methods to cut down CO2 usages and increase the usages of such material that have low or no CO2 emission. So we can develop some material of such type that also low in cost or such methods that reduce that CO2 emission. Now this is the only way to save the earth from the on going destruction. 6- Pollution Prevention and Control (PPC) Pollution Prevention and Control or PPC is a dictatorial command for conniving pollution from confident industrial actions. From 6 April 2008 it has been included into the structure of the Environmental Permitting Regulations (EPR). The regulators The manufacturing activities trapped by the PPC component of the Environmental Permitting Regulations are opening into three groups and are synchronized by two different regulators: The Environment Agency; The Environment Agency regulates what determined the majority polluting of the three manufacturing categories, Local authorities: Local authorities control the moderately fewer polluting Defra has placed policy to control and mange the areas of industrial and environmental changes and placed several policies to switch and tackle these problems. Local Air Quality Management Areas Statutory nuisance Waste Management These are three authorities established by Defra to handle the increasing pollution and climate changes. How relevant to the engineering discipline? As I have stated in all above topics that by reducing CO2 emanation, having a good policy for water management and good strategy for the environmental control. I can say that all above stated applications of the engineering discipline into environmental control and better management are the part of this topic also. Conclusion As concluding whole discussion we have seen lots of environmental problems and Defra’s policies and actions against those problems. I have tried to select and discuss related and interconnected topics, it is easy for better understanding, sequence and connation among the whole discussion, like Soil, water, air, contamination are connected to industrial growth and pollution they are spearing and this all leads to climate changes and global warming. I have also discussed all this in the same sequence. Now we can say that we people are effecting the environment. Every day there is an increase in our needs, our changing life style and other factors related to our luxurious life the main reasons behind these are environmental changes and contamination. So it is our responsibility to handle and tackle all these in such a way that our coming generations would able to have better living place. References 1. DEFRA. 2008. Retrieved on November 17, 2008. Retrieved from: http://www.defra.gov.uk/ General: 2. http://www.defra.gov.uk/ 3. http://www.defra.gov.uk/environment/index.htm For Air quality 4. http://www.defra.gov.uk/environment/airquality/index.htm 5. http://www.defra.gov.uk/corporate/consult/airqualitymanage-guidance/index.htm 6. http://www.airquality.co.uk/archive/what_causes.php 7. http://www.opsi.gov.uk/si/si2003/20032121.htm For Chemicals 8. http://www.defra.gov.uk/environment/chemicals/pdf/acrylamide_rrs.pdf 9. http://www.defra.gov.uk/environment/chemicals/pdf/naphthalene_rrs.pdf 10. http://www.opsi.gov.uk/SI/si2006/20063311.htm 11. For Climate change & energy 12. http://www.defra.gov.uk/environment/climatechange/adapt/index.htm 13. http://www.defra.gov.uk/environment/climatechange/trading/uk/index.htm 14. http://www.defra.gov.uk/environment/climatechange/latest.htm 15. http://www.defra.gov.uk/environment/chemicals/pdf/acrylamide_rrs.pdf 16. http://www.defra.gov.uk/environment/chemicals/pdf/naphthalene_rrs.pdf For Land: soil & contamination 17. http://www.defra.gov.uk/environment/land/soil/index.htm 18. http://www.defra.gov.uk/environment/land/soil/pdf/soilactionplan.pdf 19. http://www.defra.gov.uk/environment/land/soil/pdf/sap-report07.pdf For Pollution prevention & control 20. http://www.defra.gov.uk/environment/ppc/localauth/pubs/guidance/notes/pgnotes/pdf/pg6-27.pdf 21. http://www.defra.gov.uk/environment/ppc/localauth/pubs/guidance/notes/pgnotes/pdf/PG1_05.pdf 22. For Water issues 23. http://www.defra.gov.uk/news/2008/081029a.htm 24. http://environment-agency.gov.uk/subjects/flood/floodwarning/ 25. http://www.defra.gov.uk/environment/water/industry/review/pdf/ofwat-guidance080922.pdf 26. http://www.defra.gov.uk/environment/chemicals/pdf/mercury-consultation.pdf 27. Read More