Approved October 21, 1995, by the WEF Board of Directors

The following principles should be considered when programs (at a global, regional, or site-specific level) are being developed or evaluated for the reduction or elimination of pollution.

Definitions
As used in these Principles, a "Pollutant" is any agent (substance, organism, or energy) present in amounts which, the application of sound science indicates, impairs the ecosystem to the extent that its current use or reasonably foreseeable use is precluded.

"Pollution" is the presence in the environment of a pollutant. "Pollution reduction and elimination" is the ongoing process, the goal of which is to reduce or limit polluting agents to levels that are compatible with sustainable, healthy ecosystems and that allow reasonable use of any affected resource (i.e., air, water, soil, etc.). Because human activity and natural processes generate by-products and wastes, "pollution elimination," as used in these Principles, does not necessarily mean complete elimination of individual polluting agents.

Goals
Goals must be based on sound scientific, engineering, and management principles, be realistic and attainable. Both long-term and short-term goals should be set.

Agents causing pollution should be prevented from entering the environment by applying, during planning and decision making, the techniques of: 1) cleaner production/processes, 2) waste minimization and reduction, 3) waste and/or by-products recycling, 4) treatment, and 5) environmentally sound disposal practices.

Methodology
Successful pollution reduction and elimination requires 1) sound engineering and applied science as well as technical feasibility, 2) a willingness to make behavioral changes in institutions and individuals, 3) the ability to set priorities, 4) trained individuals to carry out the programs, and 5) sustained economic viability.

Once achievable pollution elimination goals have been identified, economics and public policy should establish realistic priorities and attainable schedules for environmental improvements.

Progress toward achieving pollution elimination goals should be periodically evaluated. To the extent practical, progress should be measured in terms of ecosystem/resource response and economic sustainability.

Periodic evaluation of priorities, progress, and time schedules are essential in order to incorporate advances in sound scientific and technical knowledge, as well as changes in economic and public policy considerations.

While pollution elimination is the ultimate goal, pollution reduction through prevention, control, and treatment is a vital element in an integrated environmental protection plan.

Public Policy and Priority Setting
Policies should be established with a holistic, multimedia perspective. Pollution prevention activities that merely shift pollutants from one medium (air, water, etc.), ecosystem, or political jurisdiction to another, or which result in a net increase in pollution across media are not desirable.

Setting priorities, consideration should be given to the persistence of the pollutant and the assimilative capacity (or lack of capacity) of the impacted resource or ecosystem to recover once the pollution has been reduced or eliminated.

Order to ensure sustainable environmental improvements, pollution elimination goals and other environmental priorities must be periodically reevaluated using a three-part process in order to maximize cost-effective, socially acceptable environmental improvements: 1) evaluate current public policy and available resources, 2) prioritize needs, and 3) incorporate advances in scientific and technical knowledge.

Public policy, with respect to pollution reduction and elimination, as well as the prioritization of goals, should be established with the participation of all affected parties.

Global Context
Pollution elimination efforts should begin at the local (including individual) level. Where appropriate, local pollution elimination efforts should be integrated so they become regional or global efforts. Pollution cannot always be eliminated or reduced on a local basis. Ecosystems can extend beyond political borders. The water cycle and global air circulation patterns indicate that elimination of impairment caused by some pollutants can only be accomplished through political, regional, and/or global cooperative efforts.

Research
Research is fundamental to sustainable pollution reduction and elimination. Basic and applied research are critical elements of a comprehensive environmental protection plan. Research expands the understanding of the sources and effects of pollutants, leads to the development of more cost- effective solutions, and defines the limits of our current knowledge and technology. Research is fundamental to setting priorities, targeting substances of concern, setting pollution reduction milestones, and measuring success.

Research results should be "peer reviewed" and then widely disseminated to all interested parties including, but not limited to, public officials, policy makers, manufacturers, and individuals.

Education and Communication
Public policy and behavioral changes are necessary for a successful effort. This can only be brought about by education and communication. Effective communication as well as regional and international cooperation (including the sharing of resources and development of common goals) are necessary to eliminate pollution.

Public education and awareness on the causes of pollution, available reduction and elimination techniques and their costs, as well as the limits of current knowledge must reach individuals, manufacturers, environmental professionals, public officials, and policy makers.