Polluters to pay' under new EU legislation
The European Union has agreed on new legislation which will force industries
that pollute the environment to pay for rectifying the damage caused.
EU environment commissioner, Margot Wallstroem, said, ‘The idea
that the polluter must pay is a cornerstone of EU environment policy,
and with the new directive, we are, for the first time, putting the "polluter
pays principle" into practice in a comprehensive manner’.
However, many environmentalists have expressed disappointment in the
new legislation, which does not cover nuclear or marine oil pollution,
and will not at this stage require industry to take out insurance against
damage to the environment.
Under new climate change laws, which have recently come into force, all
EU countries must monitor their greenhouse gas emissions, implementing
strict accounting, reporting and reviewing measures.
Meanwhile, MPs have been warned that Britain could face an energy crisis
as early as 2006, because of under-investment in the UK electricity network.
Experts have raised concerns that the Government’s current renewable
energy strategy will not be sufficient to replace nuclear and coal-fired
stations, as these are phased out.
Last summer, both London and Birmingham experienced significant power
blackouts.
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