Environmental Law & Regulations Flashcards

In the context of international climate law, what does 'common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities' (CBDR-RC) mean?

Answer: Countries have shared obligations but different capacities and historical responsibilities

CBDR-RC acknowledges that while all countries share responsibility for addressing climate change, obligations differ based on historical emissions and economic capacity.

Under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA), facilities that generate large quantities of hazardous waste must notify EPA and are subject to which compliance standard?

Answer: Large Quantity Generator (LQG) rules

LQG regulations apply to facilities generating ≥1,000 kg of hazardous waste per month and impose the most stringent management, training, and reporting requirements.

Which provision of the Paris Agreement requires all parties to submit progressively more ambitious climate plans every five years?

Answer: Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs)

NDCs are national climate plans that each party submits and updates every five years, with each successive NDC expected to be more ambitious than the last.

The Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) imposes liability for cleanup costs on which parties at contaminated sites?

Answer: Current owners, past owners, arrangers, and transporters

CERCLA's broad liability scheme covers current owners/operators, past owners/operators, generators who arranged disposal, and transporters who selected the site.

Under the EU Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD), which reporting framework do companies primarily use for climate disclosures?

Answer: European Sustainability Reporting Standards (ESRS)

CSRD requires in-scope companies to report using ESRS, developed by EFRAG, which includes detailed climate-related disclosure requirements.

The Clean Water Act's National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) requires permits for which type of discharge?

Answer: Pollutants from point sources into navigable waters

NPDES permits are required for any discharge of pollutants from a point source into waters of the United States.

Which international agreement established the first legally binding emission reduction targets for developed countries during its first commitment period (2008–2012)?

Answer: Kyoto Protocol

The Kyoto Protocol set legally binding GHG reduction targets for Annex I countries, averaging about 5% below 1990 levels during 2008–2012.