Ardrilynne A.

Salis
TITLE?
This is not the proper format of an issue memo just because there is a memo in it.
ISSUE:
How does the principle of sustainable development would apply if despite these
environmental laws, rules and regulations, the destruction and deterioration of our
environment and its rich natural resources continue unabated. (In the end, did you
answer your issue?)
DISCUSSION:
Each and every one of us heavily depends on the environment and its rich natural
resources. Undeniably, we rely on the environment for our sustenance and our very
lives. It provides us with fresh air, food, energy, drinking water and many other essential
requirements for us to live long and healthy. The environment is also one of the source
of our livelihood especially farmers and fishermen. When our basic needs and the needs
of our economy and industries are both being sustained by the environment, problems,
issues, and competing interests are bound to happen.
As we can all observe, the sad reality that we are facing now is that the capacity of
our environment and natural resources being pushed at the edge by the growing needs
of the global economy. Our environment is increasingly under threat due to the climate
change, disasters, deforestation, the destructive impact of mining activities, pollution
and even the extinction of plants and animal species.
To address this issue, and to be able to manage our resources in a manner that
need to preserve the environment and our interests and needs , various laws have been
enacted and rules and regulations have been issued to protect the environment and
regulate the development and use of natural resources
The Principle of Sustainable Development as defined by the 1987 Brundtland
Report as a development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the
ability of future generations to meet their own needs. It imposes the idea of limitations
on the environment's capacity to meet present and futures needs [source?] Sustainable
development prompts that the primary focus of environmental protection efforts is to
improve the human condition. The concept of sustainable development carries two key
concepts. First, is the existence of needs with particular focus to the needs of the poor.
Second, is that the environment has limitations in meeting the needs of present and
future generations.
The principle of Sustainable development addresses the needs to reconcile issues
of development and environmental protection. It recognizes that development requires
economic exploitation to satisfy the needs of the growing population at the same time
protecting the environment for future generations. The concept of sustainable
development seeks to achieve exploitation of resources while leaving the environment
intact for the use of future generations.
Max Valverde Soto (year) discussed that sustainable development as reflected in
international agreements, encompasses at least three elements:

A. Intergenerational Equity.
Intergenerational equity is each generation's responsibility to leave an
inheritance of wealth no less than what they themselves have inherited. The
present generation holds the natural resources in trust for future generations."
Early" and recent' treaties have referred to this principle. Since you mentioned
this, what are these treaties?
B. Sustainable Use of Natural Resources.
The primary roots of the principle of sustainable use of natural resources can be
traced to 1893, when the United States proclaimed a right to ensure the proper
use of seals in order to save them from destruction. The term has been used in
conservation conventions.'" While attempts to define the principle of sustainable
use of natural resources have been made, no general definition exists. Terms such
as proper, wise use," judicious exploitation," sound environmental management,
ecologically sound, and rational use" are used interchangeably without
definitions. (source? Year?)
C. Integration of environment and development.
"In order to achieve sustainable development, environmental protection shall
constitute an integral part of the development process and cannot be considered
in isolation from it. " (you lifted a quote: source? Year?) " Therefore, when
implementing environmental obligations, economical and social development
should be taken into consideration, and vice versa.
(how would you related these principles to your given issue?)
In the landmark case of Oposa v. Factoran (year?), the Supreme Court had
the occasion to discuss the Principle of Sustainable Development and the concept of
Intergenerational Responsibility. The case was instituted by minors along with their
parents alleging that the then Secretary of Natural Resources acted with grave abuse of
discretion in issuing Timber Licensing Agreements to cover more areas. Respondents
alleged that the minors, who invoked the right to balanced and healthful ecology, had no
valid cause of action.
Thus, according to Lluis Paradell-Trius (year?),, it is not surprising that the
international law of sustainable development, i.e. the normative body developed for the
purpose of integrating environmental protection and socio-economic development, is to
a very large extent said to be formed by principles. (how do you connect this statement
to Oposa vs. Factoran? There is something wrong in the shift.) They are, for instance,
the principles reflected in the two treaties adopted at the 1992 United Nations
Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED), the United Nations
Framework Convention on Climate Change (Climate Change Convention) and the
Convention on Biological Diversity (Biodiversity Convention).
The speed with which the world's perception of the environmental crisis has
developed, and the urgency of the need to end solutions, is the second reason for the
profusion of principles. There is an exigency to, as it were, circumvent some of the
difficulties involved in treaty negotiation and ratification by encouraging States to agree

more speedily on general standards, objectives and principles, while leaving more
detailed rules for future development. The flexibility and adaptability of principles
inherent in their open-textured nature may make environmental regulation more
readily acceptable by States. At the same time, and in spite of leaving considerable room
for interpretation and elaboration, principles do prescribe standards or objectives which
are expected to be taken into account as international canons of environmental conduct.
The difficulties in determining the legal status of principles are not obstacles to
attempting to define their legal significance, i.e. their functions, effect or role in
international environmental law. Generally speaking, the legal significance of a principle
must be considered in the light of the particular activity at issue, the facts and the
circumstances of each particular case, the source of the principle and its textual context.
In other words, the function of a principle may only become clear in its practical
application. (plagiarized: source)
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