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Environmental Policies and Sustainable Development
in The World and in Türkiye

of the environment, utilisation and preservation of rural and urban land as well
as natural sources in the best way, preservation of flora and fauna as well as
natural and historical richness, and prevention of water, soil and air pollution”.
The Law no. 5491 which took effect in 2006, the purpose of our national
environmental policy is defined in the purpose paragraph as “to ensure the
protection of environment which is the common property of all beings, in line
with sustainable environment and sustainable development principles”.
Main principles which the Environmental Law is based on, may be described
as such:
• Each person has a responsibility for protecting the environment and
preventing the pollution.
• The Ministry, local administrations, professional organisations,
associations and non-govermental organisations should cooperate
in all kinds of activities regarding the protection of environment,
prevention of its detorioration and elimination of the pollution.
• Public authorities that decide on the land and resource utilisation are
liable to act in accordance with the sustainable development principle
in the decision-making process.

• An assessment in the framework of sustainable development principle
should be made for the possible economic and social benefits as well as
the effects on the environmental values that each planned investment
may bring.

• There is an obligation to comply with the principle of participation in
establishing the environmental policy.
• In all activities, it is essential to reduce the formation of waste at its
source and to use environment-friendly technologies that enable
reusing the wastes.
• The “polluter pays” principle has been adopted in the expenditures
to be made for preventing, reducing, eliminating the pollution and
degradation and improving the environment. Those who pollute
the environment and cause damage to it are liable for the damage
deriving from their actions causing pollution and degradation on the
environment without seeking any fault condition (strict liability).
• It is a fact that the final solution for environmental problems is all
about raising environmentally conscious citizens who are watch for
the environmental values. For this purpose, it has become obligatory
to include environment-related subjects in the syllabuses of formal
education institutions under the Ministry of National Education. An

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