ENS 405
Environmental Standards
2
Course Description
At the end of this course students will be able to:
1. explain the concept and importance of environmental standards;
2. outline steps in setting environmental standards;
3. mention types of damage;
4. explain steps in the balancing process; and
5. evaluate environmental standards in Nigeria.
Course Outline
The concept and importance of environmental standards. Steps in setting environmental
standards: evaluation of the specific risk, calculation of the expected value of the occurrence of
the risk, classification of possible types of damage (i) changes due to physiochemical damages,
(ii) ecological damages in plants and animals, and (iii) damages to human health, establishment
of an acceptable risk, in view of the expected collective benefit and the balancing process. Steps
in the balancing process: (i) to establish objectives that serves the protection of life, health and
environment, and allows a rational allocation of social resources, (ii) studying the possible
outcomes of implementing these objectives, and (iii) considering social costs or damages, which
will arise when any of the available options are not further pursued. Evaluation of environmental
standards in Nigeria.