Responsibilities of Department of the Environment, Food and Regional Affairs - Essay Example

Responsibilities of Defra A Research Paper Presented to (Name of professor) (Name of Institution) In Partial Fulfillment Of the Requirement for the Degree Bachelor of Science (Engineering) By (Your name) 25th, November, 2008. Introduction DEFRA is a governmental organization in the United Kingdom which works towards protecting and improving the environment. The environmental protection activity are diverse and takes different fronts for example the reduction of environmental threat The actions taken to protect the environment are beneficial to the people in that they lead to the housing through construction of improved energy efficient buildings. It also helps in promoting social progress as well as economic growth through efficient resource use such as recycling and waste recovery. Method Statement The review on the DEFRA roles in environmental protection was undertaken on the following roles and responsibilities. Air Quality Air Quality Strategy Local air quality management Industrial air pollution Regulations Research and publications Business and the environment Under this category, roles and responsibilities of DEFRA were reviewed as follows. Sustainable consumption and production Envirowise Environmental reporting Environmental technologies Business support Climate change and energy This responsibility of DEFRA was undertaken through the following areas: What is climate change Action in the UK Adapting climate change Chemicals UK chemical policy UK EU policy Specific chemical issues REACH Land-soil and contamination Soil Background Contaminated land Function threats and policies Noise Neighborhood noise Ambient noise Noise mapping Noise act Air Quality DEFRA plays a very important role in the control of the quality of air across the United Kingdom. The government and the concerned department published a report in July 2007 which outlined the strategies for air quality issues and standards as well as set objectives for England, Scotland, Northern Island and Wales. These strategies also introduced new national policy measures which could give health benefits and meeting the strategy objectives. In regulation of air quality, DEFRA regulates industrial air pollution activities through the local authorities or the environmental agencies. This is also done under Pollution Prevention and Control (PPC) regulations from certain industrial practices. The PPC categorizes the industrial activities into three main categories namely Part A (1), A (2) and part B according to their level of pollution. They are regulated the environmental agency and local authorities. Quality air is important to my engineering course in that the designing of machinery that are less pollutant to the environment. Air quality depends on the amount of emissions in the atmosphere by human activities and industrial processes. As an engineering student, studying about the importance of quality air, legislations and regulations is useful in that I can apply my knowledge as a mechanical engineer in developing machines which are environmental friendly. Also as an engineer one can be able to design devices which can be useful in absorbing carbon dioxide. Business and environment DEFRA realizes the role played by businesses in helping in the protection and enhancing the environment with the aim of sustainable development. Businesses are in particular important in meeting the Johannesburg goals on sustainable consumption and production and corporate responsibility. The UK government through DIAFRA launched the UK Sustainable Development Strategy in securing the future. This strategy focuses on the need for businesses approach to corporate responsibility in ensuring that their supply chains extend to environmental tackling issues at raw material extraction level, through interaction with consumers for the products and services they use and discard the waste. This is possible through a sound environmental management of processes involved in production and consumption of a given commodity or service. The government works hand in hand with businesses to ensure a more sustainable pattern of production and consumption. The government achieves these through: Enabling businesses to deliver more sustainable consumption and production Advising and informing business on issues relating to environment Encouraging extensive adoption of corporate responsibility practices such as environmental reporting and management systems. Working closely and directly with business sector to help in environmental protection. The government also offers direct assistance to companies through support which enable the business to improve efficiency hence sustain profits, Carbon trust which helps the public sector and business to reduce carbon emission, Waste Resource Action Program which promotes the development of markets for recycled waste materials and Envirowise which offers practical environmental advice for business. Business and environment is also an important aspect of significance to engineering. Production of products, i.e. goods and services has effect on environment and also consumption as it determines the waste products. As an engineer with knowledge on business and environment, one can be able to contribute to sustainable environment through designing extraction processes which do not degrade the environment. An engineer will also be able to design useful means of disposal such as recycling of waste and saving the resources from exploitation. Climate change and energy Climate change is a major environmental challenge in the world so far. The green house effect leading to global warming has numerous effects on other environmental hazards such as floods. This effect of global warming will be felt globally including the UK hence it is the responsibility of every country to act in reducing this threat. The key issue in reducing the effect is through cutting down the emission of carbon dioxide. The government, public, business and individuals also need to respond to the challenges of climate change. DEFRA in the UK is responsible for reduction of the risk by reducing the causes. DEFRA is provides information about climate change bill through the UK climate change program and other initiatives for individuals and businesses adapting to climate change and energy issues. The government has promised a long term assistance package for households to help cope with ever increasing energy prices and save about £300 in a year on energy bills. This will be achieved through use of energy efficient sources of energy which in turn reduce Carbon dioxide emission. A new department of energy and climate change has also been formed in which much of the existing responsibilities of DEFRA have been joined together with energy components of BERR in facing the challenges of climate change and energy supply in the UK. Climate change and energy is a major concern as it is the key cause of global warming. As engineers, we can develop models which assist in minimizing the production of green house gases. Designing of cars using other sources of energy apart from fossil fuel is solely the work of mechanical engineers. The engineers can collaborate with chemical engineers in developing fuel efficient vehicles and alternative fuel in efforts to minimize pollution and protection of green house gases. Chemicals DEFRA has a great responsibility in protecting the environment from harmful chemicals hence protect human health from risks that result from exposure of hazardous chemical components. The government also needs to increase the socio-economic importance of chemicals for human use. The role of DEFRA is to manage the risk relating to hazard that chemicals poses to human and the environment. This is considered an important role as chemicals surround us and our environment. There are no defined policies in the UK which govern chemical control but they have been incorporated with the EU policies in controlling chemicals in the environment. The UK is working with the EU in order to come up with more defined policies controlling the manufacture and use of certain chemicals. However the UK has developed a chemical strategy published on December 1999 to address the issue of increasing concern about the ineffectiveness of the already existing legislations addressing chemical risks. Marketing of Mercury has been restricted in certain devices in the UK following a consultation with the European Commission Draft Instrument. Industries will also be required to take voluntary action to reduce risks of nonylphenols, octylphenols and their ethoxylates to the environment. National initiatives have also been taken in the UK. As Perfluorooctane sulphorate (PFOS) has been identified as toxic chemicals, the UK has conducted a risk reduction strategy for PFOS and other substances that degrade to it. Restrictions of PFOS were introduced and took effect on 27th June 2008 from recommendation from consultations from PFOS. Engineers have a great duty in the manufacturing process. In drug manufacture, engineers can apply their knowledge in creating means of producing drugs that are less harmful to the environment. Engineering knowledge is also useful in detoxification process. Land-soil and contamination This is another role of DEFRA which is concerned with the different aspects of soil and contamination. It deals with the various functions performed by soil and the various threats to soil. Soil is a fundamental natural resource which provides an essential link between the mechanisms that make our environment. DEFRA published the First Soil Action Plan for England in May 2004. Contamination of land is separately covered in a series of pages as it is extensive with its own legislation, policies and technical materials. Contamination of land poses environmental and human health risks. In England, there are legal policies for chemical contaminants in soil. Contaminants can occur either naturally in the soil or from human activities such as industrial and domestic pollution. Land is considered to be contaminated when it has large amounts of chemicals which are hazardous to human and the environment. The main objective of the government is to establish a long term solution to soil contamination by identifying and dealing with contaminated land. Policies which tackle contamination which are divided into two categories: Measures to identify and deal with existing contaminated land Measures to prevent contamination of clean land. These measures include policies and legislation on waste, water, pollution and chemicals. DEFRA’s concern in contaminated land focuses on sites where there is no voluntary solution. DEFRA oversees contaminated land legislation Part 2A of the Environmental Protection Act 1990, which was established to necessitate action in the absence of a voluntary solution. Land-soil contaminations are related to engineering in that processes of engineering determine the pollution of both land and air. Engineers can change the way they make machines to avoid producing of toxicants in the soil. Noise Environmental noise or ambient is the harmful unwanted outdoor sound that result from human activities, transport means e.g. road, rail and air traffic. DEFRA develop and promote initiatives to deal with noise and other nuisance and also manages research into noise. Policies for noise and nuisance are responsible for: Developing policies on neighborhood noise and statutory nuisance such as smell/odours, dust, and bonfire nuisance. Making policies on ambient noise Proposal negotiations for European legislation on noise and implementation of the legislation once it is ready. Disseminating information on avoiding causes of nuisance and how to deal with issues related to nuisance. The European Union developed policies on Environmental Noise directives which require each member states to design strategic noise maps for major agglomerations along major transport lines within their territories. There are other action plans to be drawn designed to manage issues related to noise and reduction strategies if necessary. Maps and action plans were completed on 30th June and 18th July 2008 respectively. In England, the legislations for ambient noise were laid down on 2006 but do not address domestic and neighborhood noise. Noise maps are maps which provide an overview of the environmental noise climate in cities and main transportation sources in the UK. The maps take care of the number of people affected by different levels of environmental noise and the sources of this noise. Noise is produced my machineries. Mechanical engineering is responsible for making of engines. These engines are the one which run in vehicles, trains, airplanes and other and industrial engines. These engines are responsible for ambient noise and as engineers aware of the policies governing noise issues; one can design models of cars engines, train or jets which produce minimal noise. The engineers can also develop noise reduction measures in the noise maps as a way of minimizing the uncontrolled noise in road, air or train noise through knowledge learnt in engineering. Conclusion The role of DEFRA in environmental protection is extensive and takes several dimensions. The different responsibilities performed by DEFRA are just but a few of its responsibility in environmental protection. The organization is faced by a number of challenges in the UK as there lacks definite policy and legislations to support its efforts in some fields. Some regulations provided by EU may also underpin the policies set in the UK by DEFRA or help in supporting them. The UK government has supported the initiatives in environmental protection by making direct contributions to the organization. Education and awareness have been the best measure in all cases in informing the public about the sustainable environmental use and DEFRA should emphasis on these strategies before formulating strategies and implementing them. As an engineer, the study of the roles of DEFRA i.e. noise, chemicals, land-soil contamination, air quality, climate change and energy as well as business and environment is a great experience which motivates someone in advancing the knowledge acquired from the reviewing of the website. The website is very resourceful for engineers and they can demonstrate high skills in the course from rich ideas developed from DEFRA. Incorporating ideas can also help in tackling the environmental problems. Reference Defra, Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs available on http://www.defra.gov.uk accessed on 25th November, 2008. Read More