What is the primary goal of environmental policy?

The primary goal of environmental policy centers on protecting the environment and promoting sustainable practices. This involves developing regulations and initiatives that safeguard natural resources, ecosystems, and human health from the impacts of pollution, resource depletion, and climate change. By prioritizing environmental protection, policy frameworks seek to ensure that resource use today does not compromise the needs of future generations, thereby embracing the principle of sustainability.

In this context, while stimulating economic growth, enhancing international trade, and developing new forms of energy can all be important aspects of broader economic and environmental strategies, they are not the primary focus of environmental policy itself. The essential aim remains centered on protecting the environment, which serves as the foundation for both ecological health and the overall well-being of societies.