The "Polluter Pays" is an underlying Principle of macro-environmental management. Fine words and coarse application? Does mature reflection suggest th

The Environmental Liability Directive (2004)

The Environmental Liability Directive (ELD) was created with regard to preventing and remedying any damage to the environment, it aims to do this by establishing a frameworkof environmental liability, which is based upon the 'polluter pays' principle.

Therefore this directive aims to hold any operator whose activities have caused any environmental damage or pose any imminent threat financially liable by strict liability. In this way the directive aims to encourage operators to implement measures of best practice that will minimise the risks of environmental damage.

Definition of terms as defined by the ELD:

Environmental Damage - Damage to protected species and natural habitats, which is any damage that has significant adverse effects on reaching or maintaining the favourable conservation status of such habitats or species.

Protected Species -

Conservation Status -

Waters -

Preventive Measures -

Remedial Measures -

Baseline Condition -

Competant Authority -

Critiques of the ELD: