This meeting was organised by the Climate Working Group of the Sustainability in the Water Sector Speciality Group.

The Polluter Pays Principle (PPP) is an environmental policy asserting that those responsible for pollution should bear the costs of managing it, rather than passing these costs onto the wider community or those affected by the pollution. It was established by the OECD in 1972, but we continue to see the heaviest prices of climate change being paid by people far from the main greenhouse gas polluters. If we are to avert the climate crisis, is it time for Radical Change?

What changes are required to the way we have adopted PPP in order to meet the world’s current needs?

This principle is crucial for achieving climate justice and can be applied to various activities such as pollution prevention, remediation, and the safe disposal of hazardous by-products. As a working group, we want to spark debate about the challenges being faced at the national, regional and global levels.

The meeting on the Polluter Pays Principle (PPP) gathered perspectives from the UK, USA, and Brazil to explore how polluters should bear the costs of managing pollution. Discussions covered key activities like pollution prevention as well as the financial and policy challenges of fully implementing PPP. We heard from authorities applying PPP to greenhouse gas emissions, and about new technologies that make full implementation of PPP possible for the first time. Participants assessed real-world case studies, explored strategies for effective implementation, and debated its role in advancing climate justice.