Management of Environmental Pollution: a matter of co-responsibility
No. 30 (2009-11-01)Author(s)
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Alexander ValenciaIngeniero Mecánico. Asesor, Ministerio de Ambiente, Vivienda y Desarrollo Territorial. Bogotá D.C., Colombia. alvalencia@minambiente.gov.co
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Rodrigo Suárez CastañoIngeniero Ambiental y Sanitario. Asesor, Ministerio de Ambiente, Vivienda y Desarrollo Territorial. Bogotá D.C., Colombia. rsuarez@minambiente.gov.co
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Alejandra SánchezIngeniera Ambiental y Sanitaria. Asesora, Ministerio de Ambiente, Vivienda y Desarrollo Territorial. Bogotá D.C., Colombia. msanchez@minambiente.gov.co
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Elmer CardozoMSc. Coordinador Producción y Consumo Sostenible. Ministerio de Ambiente, Vivienda y Desarrollo Territorial. Bogotá D.C., Colombia. ecardozo@minambiente.gov.co
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Marcela BonillaM.Sc. Coordinadora, Grupo Política, Normatividad y Calidad Ambiental del Ministerio de Ambiente, Vivienda y Desarrollo Territorial. Bogotá D.C., Colombia, mbonilla@minambiente.gov.co
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César BuitragoM.Sc. Director de Desarrollo Sectorial Sostenible, Ministerio de Ambiente, Vivienda y Desarrollo Territorial. Bogotá D.C., Colombia. cbuitrago@minambiente.gov.co
Abstract
Environmental management in cities, especially related with air, water and soil poses important challenges to a society; Colombia’s current economic development model, following unsustainable production and consumption patterns, causes pollution with very high costs for societies, related to health problems and deterioration of natural renewable resources. Public policies related to environmental management must focus on prevention and must follow principles like the producer’s extended responsibility, in the frame of the life cycle of the product. This represents a co-responsibility of institutional stakeholders as well as that of citizens.
Keywords:
Air pollution, air quality, electric and electronic wastes, sustainable production and consumption, urban environmental management, water pollution, water quality