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Summary

Policy instruments are tools to implement desirable changes and achieve certain goals. They are generally grouped as follows:

This Chapter briefly describes each group of policy instruments, their practical application in the past and present, as well as necessary activities for improvement of the present system.

Polluters, that is producers and consumers, should be responsible for the environmental pollution they cause. It is possible to use policy instruments to change the activities of these target groups so that they do less harm to the environment. It is the responsibility of the State administration system to implement them.

The spectrum of policy instruments is wide, so when applying them it should be ensured that they are relevant to the targeted groups or environmental situations. A combination of instruments is often used to minimise obstacles that hinder solutions. In order to evaluate which instruments should be used, the following criteria apply:

• efficiency (such instruments should be selected that solve several environmental problems simultaneously);
• cost effectiveness;
• acceptable to both decision-makers and the public.

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Last updated: November 8, 1996. The information prepared by Valts Vilnitis: fuxis@varam.gov.lv