Appropriate Rules for Protecting the Environment: Environmental Law

Abstract

Environmental problems are natural scientific phenomena related to the air, water, and soil. However, the causes of these problems are economic activities, such as industrial activities and household consumption. In addition, because laws regulate economic activity, the interplay between law and the economy has a tremendous effect on the environment and the severity of environmental problems. Considering the interplay between law and the economy related to environmental problems, it is most important for policymakers to incorporate incentives effectively to achieve their policy goals. If a mechanism is created whereby people benefit by acting in an environmentally friendly way, their behavior can be changed. Another important point is to consider both costs and benefits. Although protecting the environment is undoubtedly important, the associated costs should not be ignored. It is necessary to carefully examine the extent to which the environment should be protected by factoring in both the costs and benefits to society. In this chapter, we discuss waste management, recycling policy, and landscape protection to analyze the relationship between law and the economy.