Environmental Law: Functions of Environmental Law in Kenya

Environmental law is a complex group of laws and regulations which operate to regulate the interaction of human life to the natural environment. Environmental laws consist of treaties, conventions, statutes and regulations. Often environmental law falls under common law.

The purpose of environmental law is to protect and preserve the environment. There are two main subjects of environmental laws, control of pollution, and the conservation and management ofland.Both sections of environmental law protect land, air, water, and soil.

When a person acts negligently to the environment and breaks an environmentallaw, punishments are given. Punishments can vary but may include: fines, community service, and even jail time. Environmental laws which are commonly broke include: littering, dumping hazardous materials into bodies of water, starting forest fires, and polluting watershed property.

The general functions of most environmental laws are to:
_set offences and penalties for causing harm to the environment which is not authorised
-assess, control or stop certain activities (such as land use and development) before they are carried out
-set policies and standards for how activities will be controlled and how environmental decisions and approvals will be made
-enable members of the public to take part in environmental decision-making
-create regulatory structures for environmental management, such as regulatory agencies.