Environmental Bill Of Rights, 1993, S.O. 1993, C. 28 - Purpose, Application, And Impact

Purpose of Environmental Bill of Rights

Topic: Effectiveness of documents in creating social change 

The document is entitled, Environmental Bill of Rights, 1993, S.O. 1993, c. 28. From the title, it could be inferred that the document was created in 1993. The last amendment date was August 2020. Based on these pieces of information, A grade is apt, as the title and date, along with the revision date is also provided (Ontario.ca, 2022).

Ontario government created the document entitled, Environmental Bill of Rights, 1993, S.O. 1993, c. 28, for making the people realize the value of protecting the ecological biodiversity of the natural environment, and take part in protection, conservation, and restoration of the natural environment. Grade A is justified, as the document is presented on the website of Ontario government, clearly specifying the goal of making the people realize the value of protecting, conserving and restoring the ecological biodiversity of the environment (Ontario.ca, 2022).

The document, Environment Bill of Rights, 1993, S.O. 1993, c. 28 is applicable for the people of Ontario, Canada in terms of their contribution towards maintaining the ecological diversity of the environment. The document is also applicable for the government, who, in response to the guidance of Her Majesty, and consent of Legislative Assembly, needs to take primary responsibility in ensuring that the goal of protecting, preserving, and restoring the ecological biodiversity of nature is fulfilled (Ontario.ca, 2022). Grade B is awarded to the aspect of application of the document, as it is satisfactory, but improvements could be made in terms of globalizing the initiative. This is because the document could be made applicable for the people of other countries.

The document of Environment Bill of Rights, aims at:

• Protecting, conserving, and restoring the integrity of the environment
• Providing sustainable development
• Protecting the basic and fundamental rights in access to healthful environment (Ontario.ca, 2022)

In view of these purposes, grade A is apt, as there is clarity in the purpose, completing the thoughts of protecting the natural environment.

Documents like the Environment Bill of Rights, introduced by the government, in response to the initiatives of Legislative Assembly, are passed in public interest. The aim is to make the public aware about the drives and initiatives, which are in work for gifting them a better place to live in. Once the documents are passed, the public are expected to follow the expectations, which would yield positive outcomes. Nationally, most of the people are following the expectation, except some. The exceptions are those who do not pay heed to the need for protecting or preserving the natural resources for the future generation. They exploit the resources beyond their needs, which has resulted in depletion of the resources. In spite of several advertising campaigns, these sections of people fail to realize the consequences on a broader context (Doelle & Sinclair, 2019). They are selfish, as they are getting the readymade resources, always available to them. The repercussion of this attitude is evident in the lifestyle of the poor strata of the society, who are leading a life of inadequacies. flora and fauna are also the victims, as people are cutting down trees for their own purpose, making the beaches dirty, in spite of seeing the dustbins. Based on these aspects, Benidickson, (2020) argues that the aspect of social change, introduced by government is effective for making the people realize about the impending threats on the environment, which they would have to witness on a broader context, if exploitations are not controlled immediately. In this context, Environment Bill of Rights is an accurate step.

Application of Environmental Bill of Rights

The aspect of protecting and preserving the natural environment, is enhanced and strengthened through passing of Environment Bills of Rights (Sumudu & Andrea, 2019). Clarifying the goals and purpose of protecting, conserving, and restoring the integrity of the environment, providing sustainable development and protecting the basic and fundamental rights in access to healthful environment adds proper direction to the drive to achieving social change in the way environment is cared (Clément, 2018). Document form of Environment Bill of Right, uploaded in the website of Ontario government website indicates collaborative attempts towards restoring the lost glory of the environment due to global warming, pollution, and others. People accessing the website get to know about the steps taken by Commissioner towards protecting the ecological biodiversity of environment. Knowing about the governmental approaches, the people could contribute by taking the initiative of making judicious use of resources (Miron, 2018). If the people are conscious about protecting and preserving the natural resources, then it could be effective for adding proper direction towards embracing social change. If the focus is placed on people in rural areas, especially in terms of providing access to the basic natural resources, then the document, Environment Bill of Rights would be justified (Energy.gov, 2013). This is because looking after the access would evoke equality in the share of resources, according to the needs, demands, and requirements of the people.

Revision of the document, Environment Bill of Rights, and stating it in the document uploaded in the website is something really effective, substantiating to the purpose or goal. More the people become aware about the trends adopted for preserving the ecological biodiversity of the natural environment, more would be the efforts towards ensuring that there is enough for the use of future generations. It is the contribution of the people, which is needed for initiating appropriate social change and issuing it in public interest, making the planet a better place to live in (Cela.ca, 2022). This approach would ensure decorum, harmony, and peace. Advertisement campaigns in social networking channels would be effective for making more people aware about the ways in which natural environment could be protected, preserved.

Based on the above research, the following report card could be prepared for Environment Bill of Rights by Ontario government, Canada:

References

Benidickson, J. (2020). Environmental Law in Canada. Kluwer Law International BV. [https://books.google.co.in/books?hl=en&lr=&id=dfDSDwAAQBAJ&oi=fnd&pg=PT11&dq=environment+bill+of+rights+canada&ots=rPoEXPfpJu&sig=LJ0exTnpTKEn1KSqOZLfCvEkq_o#v=onepage&q=environment%20bill%20of%20rights%20canada&f=false]

Cela.ca (2022). Law Reform: Ontario's Environmental Bill of Rights. Retrieved 16^th Jan 2022 from https://cela.ca/law-reform-ontarios-environmental-bill-of-rights/

Clément, D. (2018). Human rights or social justice? The problem of rights inflation. The International Journal of Human Rights, 22(2), 155-169. [https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/13642987.2017.1349245]

Doelle, M., & Sinclair, A. J. (2019). The new IAA in Canada: From revolutionary thoughts to reality. Environmental Impact Assessment Review, 79, 106292. [https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eiar.2019.106292]

Energy.gov (2013). Ontario’s Environmental Bill of Rights and You. Retrieved 16^th Jan 2022 from https://www.energy.gov/sites/prod/files/2015/06/f22/OEBRG.pdf

Miron, I. (2018). The importance of Ontario’s Environmental Bill of Rights: What you need to know. [online] Available at: https://ecojustice.ca/the-importance-of-ontarios-environmental-bill-of-rights-what-you-need-to-know/ [Accessed on 16^th Jan 2022]

Ontario.ca (2022). Environmental Bill of Rights, 1993, S.O. 1993, c. 28. Retrieved 16^th Jan 2022 from https://www.ontario.ca/laws/statute/93e28

Sumudu, A., & Andrea, S. (2019). Human rights and the environment: key issues. Routledge. [https://www.taylorfrancis.com/books/mono/10.4324/9781315193397/human-rights-environment-atapattu-sumudu-schapper-andrea]