Environmental Laws and Sustainability: An Introduction (original) (raw)

Environmental Law Toward Sustainability Targets

(2022) 5(6) One Earth 577-581, 2022

The degraded state of the natural commons indicates that the institutions, organizations, and governance mechanisms through which we regulate our impact on the natural environment are fragmented and insufficient. This Voices asks: to what extent can environmental law integrate the UN Sustainable Development Goals and hold nations accountable for missed sustainability targets?

The Role of Environmental Law in the Implementation of Sustainable Development

Safety Engineering, 2016

Environmental law, as a developing branch of legal science, has been gaining in importance recently. As such, its primary task is to examine, define and clearly determine a number of terms in the field of environmental protection. Parallel to this, environmental law has another, seemingly even more important task at this point, which is to offer adequate legal solutions to prevent and stop further environmental degradation, as it is a burning issue in the present time. Sustainable development and environmental law are inseparably associated. Legal acts shall regulate the rules of conduct, among other things, in the field of environmental protection and sustainable development. There is a large number of international and national regulations which deal with the issue of sustainable development. As people obey legal regulations, either from their own beliefs about the correctness of behavior that a legal act requires, or out of fear of sanctions that can follow, it is clear that the ...

The Principle of Sustainability: Transforming Law and Governance

Journal of Education for Sustainable Development, 2010

© Klaus Bosselmann 2008 All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise without the prior permission ...

International Environmental Law in Promoting Sustainable Development: A Critical Analysis

91-111, 2022

The intersection of international environmental law and sustainable development has been debated and discussed for several decades. International environmental law is paramount for addressing intricate global environmental challenges. In addition, it plays a multifaceted role in advancing the noble concept of sustainable development, which endeavours to strike a delicate balance among economic, social, and environmental imperatives, thereby fostering a more equitable and sustainable trajectory for future generations. The study critically analyses the effectiveness of international environmental law in promoting sustainable development, focusing on challenges and opportunities for improvement. Despite the growth of international environmental law, implementation challenges, limited political will, and lack of accountability have hindered its effectiveness in promoting sustainable development. The study highlights opportunities and potential for improvement, such as the rise and collaboration. The study is based on a qualitative research design, including a comprehensive review of the relevant literature and analysis of case studies with examples of successful and unsuccessful implementation of international environmental law for sustainable development. It has been observed that while international environmental law has made significant contributions to addressing global environmental challenges, it has fallen short of achieving sustainable development goals.

Special issue: Law and sustainable development

Sustainable Development, 2020

Despite the large consensus on both the theoretical and ethical levels toward sustainable development, a grounded skepticism coming from the business side has been for a long time an obstacle to the implementation of practical behaviors and the building of effective rules.

Environmental Jurisprudence and Sustainable Development

Sustainable development is such development which meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. It involves a balance between the environmental, social and economic aspects of our society with different interpretations by diverse sectors. An unsustainable development that does not consider future implications could have severe consequences. This article focuses towards the evolution of concept of sustainable development in the Environmental Law jurisprudence both at the national as well as international level; parameters of the concept and recognition of this concept by the legislature and apex court of the country.

A Primer on International Environmental Law: Sustainability as a Principle of International Law and Custom

International environmental law draws from two important sources: international treaties and conventions' and customary international law. The main body of international environmental law today is comprised of around twenty multilateral treaties and more than 275 bilateral agreements that contain explicit references to environmental issues. This article provides an overview of many of the important sources of international environmental law and a *

LAW AND SUSTAINABILITY: THE CANADIAN CASE

This paper examines the relationship between law and sustainability; particularly the role law and the Canadian legal system play in promoting or impeding sustainable development. Key legal concepts such as private and public law, the rule of law, and environmental rights are also defined. The chapter begins by briefly examining the potential roles law may play in promoting sustainable development. The article then provides an overview of the Canadian legal system, including the key institutions and actors that create, influence, interpret and apply domestic and international laws. Canadian private law is then examined with emphasis on its failure to contend with environmental issues. The article then critically examines the development of Canadian public law and its effectiveness in addressing the failures of private law. This section includes a summary of the major legal and policy initiatives employed in Canada over the course of the last thirty years and emerging legislative strategies. Particular challenges in implementing sustainability, including declining budgets and enforcement for environmental matters, and the deficiencies in information available to guide decision-makers are then discussed. Legal mechanisms to aid in implementing sustainability, particularly by involving the public in the decision-making process are described. Initiatives to infuse environmental values at the governmental level and in the civil service, and the potential impacts of globalization and Canada’s international trade and environmental commitments are then discussed. The authors determine that the Canadian legal system is not neutral in terms of supporting sustainability, but in fact, presents significant barriers. The transformation towards sustainability will require that, over time, these barriers be removed or addressed. The potential role of law reform in reshaping domestic laws in Canada to reflect the key characteristics of sustainability and its promotion are then discussed, and future directions identified. The authors conclude that while some change is apparent, the pace of reform is too slow and may not be sufficient to respond effectively to the environmental challenges of the twenty-first century.