EnvironmentEN3BManage non-compliance cases as a knowledge practice for future recalls

Regulators manage databases of all non-compliance cases, open to public access on websites or through regular reports.

This activity is important as it allows regulators to illustrate trends and anticipate future environmental misconducts.

Regulators analyse recorded cases and adjust their policies based on information collected, monitoring, and conclusions drawn.

Citizens use this information, to understand environmental threats and become more vigilant when engaged in protecting the environment.

Expected outcomes

  • All information related to environmental infringements is open to public access at all times.
  • Service operators are assessed through their environmental performance.
  • Regulators have an overview of different trends in environmental non-compliance.
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Objective: Water abstractors and polluters are sanctioned when committing environmental infringements
Area:
Environment
Cost:
Low
Frequency:
Regular
Target group:
Regulators, Consumers, Environmental authority, Civil society
Region:
North America
Date:
Nov 01, 2022
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Example

In Canada, following the legislative framework, environmental enforcement officers enforce federal legislation that deals with different risks to the environment and biodiversity.

Laws regulate, for example, the use of toxic substances, their release to air, water or land, as well as the import and export of substances that present a risk to the environment and/or human life or health, such as hazardous wastes and hazardous recyclable materials.

Environmental enforcement officers work throughout Canada in collaboration with provincial and territorial governments, and with national and international agencies and organizations.

The Canadian government established a web page where interested parties can consult a database of various environmental and wildlife non-compliance cases.

Internal capacities needed and the role of partners

Internal capacity for knowledge management of historical enforcement cases is required for the documentation, capture, organization, and storage of information that is made publicly available.

Development partners can provide support to classify different types of environmental breaches, and facilitate peer to peer exchanges. Environmental authorities can support regulators by sharing good practices used in other sectors.