Conference Themes

The Conference addressed the following themes:

Theme #1: Principles of Environmental Enforcement

This presentation at the Third International Conference provided the participants with a common point of reference for subsequent workshops and discussions. The Principles of Environmental Enforcement text was designed for international use and developed for the international course "Principles of Environmental Compliance and Enforcement." A synopsis of the text was presented at the second International Conference on Environmental Enforcement, held in Budapest, and has subsequently been adopted as a general framework for international exchange. It covers definitions of compliance and enforcement, elements and principles, and sets forth a general framework and range of options for addressing each element of the framework. The text explores the importance of compliance and enforcement concerns, the range of motivations affecting compliance behaviors and the need to tailor compliance and enforcement strategies to the specific circumstances and problems presented. Specifically, it covers:

• Defining Compliance and Enforcement
• The need to consider compliance and enforcement at every stage in the development and implementation of environmental laws and programs; and
• Philosophy of compliance, enforcement theories, whether and how culture makes a difference, etc.
• General Framework for Compliance and Enforcement
• Designing enforceable requirements;
• Identifying the regulated universe and setting priorities;
• Promoting compliance through enforceable requirements, technical assistance, and outreach;
• Monitoring compliance;
• Establishing and using enforcement authorities;
• Defining intergovernmental roles; and
• Establishing accountability and measuring results.

The text is printed in its entirety in the Proceedings from the second International Conference on Environmental Enforcement and is summarized in Proceedings, Volume 1 of the Third International Conference on Environmental Enforcement along with the history of international Conference Workshops and other exchanges on environmental enforcement.

Theme #2: Environmental Enforcement Challenges

Papers and presentations addressed the following issues:

• The circumstances that gave rise to the decision to create an environmental enforcement program: what were the impetus and/or impediments?
• Issues that arose in organizing a program, what options were considered and selected, and why.
• Particular challenges facing developing nations and others trying to establish effective environmental enforcement programs, including issues such as economic and political uncertainty, level of support for environment, tradition of enforcement and compliance, and limitations on availability of human resources with necessary skills and experience in the field.
• Where appropriate, how these challenges were met in determining where to begin, what resources would be brought to bear, how to establish priorities, how to follow through effectively on problems found, and what human and financial resources were needed. What were some of the considerations made in deciding how to develop or acquire those resources?

Theme #3: Country Experiences in Designing Elements of an Enforcement Program

Papers and presentations addressed a specific aspect of developing the institutional capacity for an environmental enforcement program. The papers served to introduce the topics covered in the Institution-Building (UNEP) Workshops on Day Three and offered specific examples of how each country has solved an organizational or human resource problem in designing a compliance and enforcement program. The papers addressed each aspect of the enforcement program being discussed:

• How the approach was selected, how the approach evolved over time, and what other approaches were considered; and
• Whether the program represents a minimum resource expense for the benefits it delivers.
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Theme #4: Experiences in Compliance and Enforcement

Papers and presentations were solicited from all the participants for publication in the proceedings, and several were selected for short presentations during the plenary session. These papers ideally presented an environmental problem; a comprehensive enforcement approach and its development and implementation history; and statistics and other information on environmental and enforcement successes in terms of cost to implement, cost to industry, and compliance and environmental results. Presentations analyzed factors that lead to successful results and explored implications for using the same approach in other settings.

Theme #5: The Role of Communication in an Enforcement Program

• Papers and presentations addressed how effective communication is used to enhance enforcement program deterrence. For example, communication can be used to stimulate enforcers, provide the necessary political support for enforcement to take place, provide confidence to and support decisions by judges, and spur the regulated community to comply. Communication may also be used to create public interest.
• Papers also addressed the importance and use of public outreach and statistics to gain support for compliance and enforcement both in the public at large and within the regulated community, as well as some of the problems and difficulties in gaining public attention and support. The grouping of several enforcement actions to enhance communication and attention to enforcement and focus on environmental results was also evaluated in terms of what makes for success or failure.

Theme #6: Establishing International Networks

Papers and presentations described current efforts to develop international support networks for enforcement, including:

• What was the genesis of the network?
• What was/is involved in developing and maintaining the network?
• Who is asked to participate and at what levels in the organizations?
• What subjects does the network cover?
• What vehicles are used for exchange?
• On what topics is exchange taking place?
• What future directions and changes are anticipated for the network?