Enforcing Environmental Norms: Diplomatic and Judicial Approaches

Abstract:     
Since the 1972 U.N. Conference on the Human Environment, the world has witnessed an unprecedented period of environmental law making. In the space of one generation, through both national legislation and international agreements, nations have established norms and a framework for environmental stewardship of the Earth. The norms are embodied in the still-young field of environmental law, a body of law which now exists within every nation and permeates much of public international law. The norms reflected in environmental law may not yet embrace fully Aldo Leopold's "Land Ethic" as a rule of law: but they have established the juridical framework from which the Land Ethic may emerge and come to be acknowledged. One sign of the acceptance and maturation of these norms is that nations now worry about how to enforce environmental law and how to achieve compliance with environmental laws and rules.

Number of Pages in PDF File: 40

Accepted Paper Series