CSDC 468

Responsibility for the environment should also find adequate expression on a juridical level. It is important that the international community draw up uniform rules that will allow States to exercise more effective control over the various activities that have negative effects on the environment and to protect ecosystems by preventing the risk of accidents. “The State should also actively endeavour within its own territory to prevent destruction of the atmosphere and biosphere, by carefully monitoring, among other things, the impact of new technological or scientific advances ... [and] ensuring that its citizens are not exposed to dangerous pollutants or toxic wastes”.⁹⁸⁶ John Paul II, Message for the 1990 World Day of Peace, 9: AAS 82AAS — Acta Apostolicae Sedis (official gazette of the Holy See)Volume 82 (1990) at vatican.va — scanned PDF (1990), 152. The juridical content of “the right to a safe and healthy natural environment” ⁹⁸⁷ John Paul II, Address to the European Commission and Court of Human Rights, Strasbourg (8 October 1988), 5: AAS 81AAS — Acta Apostolicae Sedis (official gazette of the Holy See)Volume 81 (1989) at vatican.va — scanned PDF (1989), 685; cf. John Paul II, Message for the 1999 World Day of Peace, 10: AAS 91AAS — Acta Apostolicae Sedis (official gazette of the Holy See)Volume 91 (1999) at vatican.va — scanned PDF (1999), 384-385. is gradually taking form, stimulated by the concern shown by public opinion to disciplining the use of created goods according to the demands of the common good and a common desire to punish those who pollute. But juridical measures by themselves are not sufficient.⁹⁸⁸ Cf. John Paul II, Message for the 1999 World Day of Peace, 10: AAS 91AAS — Acta Apostolicae Sedis (official gazette of the Holy See)Volume 91 (1999) at vatican.va — scanned PDF (1999), 384-385. They must be accompanied by a growing sense of responsibility as well as an effective change of mentality and lifestyle.