The environmental legal and regulatory frameworks. Assessing fairness and efficiency

摘要

Since the 1970s, countries have protected the environment by means of various legal instruments, including environmental approvals and licensing. An environmental task force created under the Hydropower Agreement was appointed by the IEA to compare and determine the efficiency and effectiveness of such mechanisms, as the apply to each phase of hydropower development (policy level, project planning, project implementation, plant operation and plant upgrading, relicensing and decommissioning). It also examined whether legal mechanism respected ethical principles as well as the protection of the environment, human rights and the right to economic development.