1: The Principles and Practice of Protecting the Environment Privately

There is no question that the environment is important to human society: so much so that without the environment, the human race could not exist. As a species, humanity is dependent on the environment, at the most basic of levels, for its sustenance and its shelter as well as providing a liveable ‘habitat’. Humanity also enjoys the environment as a source of cultural identity and as a venue for recreation. Yet there are frequently expressed concerns that the condition of the environment is in decline and that future generations of humanity will face a situation where the ability of the environment to meet the needs of society is compromised to the point where well-being will deteriorate. This is broadly expressed as a risk to the ‘sustainability’ of society…