The Science Behind Environmental Victories

The Science Behind Environmental Victories

Communities challenging polluters need strong science, and E-LAW U.S. is giving communities around the world the scientific tools they need. In recent months, E-LAW U.S. scientists have helped communities in Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, Ukraine, Nigeria, and more win victories for the environment, public health, and human rights. Sound environmental policies must be built on solid science, and many communities do not have access to the scientific expertise and resources they need. With strategic scientific support, communities can gain a strong voice to challenge environmental abuses and chart a cleaner future. The following are a few examples.

Protecting a flood zone
Dhaka, Bangladesh

E-LAW partners at the Bangladesh Environmental Lawyers Association won a high court victory protecting a critical flood zone in the capital city of Dhaka. E-LAW U.S. Staff Scientist, Mark Chernaik, provided an expert witness affidavit explaining the risk of filling the city`s flood zone. A developer had proposed filling the flood zone for a housing project.

Testing the waters of Lake Victoria, Mwanza, Tanzania

Protecting Lake Victoria
Mwanza, Tanzania

Two large fish-processing plants have been discharging untreated effluent directly into Lake Victoria. E-LAW U.S. worked with James Njelwa at the Lawyers` Environmental Action Team`s (LEAT) Mwanza office to design an environmental monitoring plan and test the effluent. Lab results showed harmful and impermissible levels of organic pollutants. Since the monitoring, one of the companies installed an effluent treatment plant and the other one closed.

Stopping illegal sand dune mining
Kalpitiya, Sri Lanka

E-LAW U.S. obtained an expert opinion from two leading sand dune ecologists for E-LAW partners at Center for Environmental Justice who challenged sand dune mining on Sri Lanka`s northwest coast. The Government of Sri Lanka has now proposed to settle the case on very favorable terms: No mining will be allowed within 300 meters of the shore, there will be quantitative restrictions on sand mining elsewhere, and enhanced patrols will curtail illegal activities.

Protecting communities
Vilshyna, Ukraine

E-LAW partners at Environment-People-Law (EPL, formerly Ecopravo-Lviv) represented residents in Vilshyna, in western Ukraine, who lack clean drinking water because their wells have been contaminated by a coal enrichment factory. E-LAW U.S. helped EPL measure the amount of contamination in drinking water wells and pinpoint the factory as the source. In January, the Chervonograd court ordered the factory to relocate affected community members.

Ending gas flaring
Niger Delta, Nigeria

More gas is flared in the oil fields of the Niger Delta than anywhere else in the world. E-LAW partners at Friends of the Earth Nigeria won a Federal High Court order to end this harmful and wasteful practice. Pollutants from gas flares expose Niger Delta communities to health risks and damage the environment. E-LAW U.S. prepared a quantitative health risk assessment that its partners used to convince decision-makers to end gas flaring.