Polluters must pay

The notion “polluters must pay” implies that the one who is responsible for causing pollution or environmental harm should be obliged to bear the costs involved in mitigating or eradicating the harm associated with them, including covering the health costs of the people affected.

For instance, an industrial facility should be held accountable for the proper disposal of any potentially toxic waste that results from its operations.

The idea behind this principle is to lessen detrimental environmental effects brought on by industries and individuals’ actions through (dis)incentives — usually by imposing taxes, emission quotas, or certain technological solutions.

It is part of a set of broader principles to guide sustainable development worldwide, formally known as the 1992 Rio Declaration, which serves as the foundation for the majority of laws governing contamination of land, water, and air.

In a speech, delivered at the UN headquarters in New York in September 2022, António Guterres, UN Secretary General stressed that polluters must pay to fund vulnerable countries facing severe problems and losses from the climate crisis.

“It's high time to put fossil fuel producers, investors, and enablers on notice. Polluters must pay. I am calling on all developed economies to tax the windfall profits of fossil fuel companies. Those funds should be redirected in two ways to countries suffering loss and damage caused by the climate crisis.”

As far as small businesses are considered, implementing “polluters must pay” policies can be complex and require careful consideration in order to avoid unexpected outcomes like arbitrarily impacting them or creating financial hardships for them.