Law no. 2000-045 (on the Environmental Code)

The purpose of this Act is to establish the general principles that should form the basis of the national policy for the protection of the environment and serve as a basis for the harmonization of ecological imperatives with the requirements of sustainable economic and social development. the national environmental policy strives in particular to guarantee 1) the conservation of biological diversity and the rational use of natural resources, 2)the fight against desertification, 3) the fight against pollution and nuisances, 4) improvement and protection of the living environment, and 5) the harmonization of development with the safeguarding of the natural environment. Articles 31 to 34 relate to the protection of the atmosphere. Article 33 in particular states that when emissions into the atmosphere are likely to pose a threat to people or property, the proponents must implement all appropriate measures to suppress or reduce their pollutant emissions.