International Environmental Law
How international law addresses climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution through treaties, principles, and institutions.
The Growth of Environmental Law
International environmental law is one of the fastest-growing fields of international law. The 1972 Stockholm Declaration, which established the principle that states have a responsibility to ensure activities within their jurisdiction do not damage the environment of other states, launched the modern era. The 1992 Rio Earth Summit produced the Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), and Agenda 21.
Key principles include the precautionary principle (lack of scientific certainty should not delay action against serious environmental threats), the polluter pays principle, the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities (all states share environmental obligations but developed countries bear greater responsibility due to their historical contributions to pollution), and the principle of sustainable development, which seeks to balance economic growth with environmental protection.