Law Commons^™

International Environmental Law Principles Relevant To Exploitation Activity In The Area, Robin M. Warner

Faculty of Law, Humanities and the Arts - Papers (Archive)

The International Seabed Authority is responsible for providing effective protection for the marine environment from the harmful effects of activities in the Area under Article 145 of UNCLOS. To meet this challenge, it must determine the relevant environmental governance principles applicable to each stage of an exploration and exploitation activity and how they can be operationalized in practical terms. This article discusses some key principles of international environmental law and management which are potentially relevant to the exploitation process and in particular the approval of a plan of work for exploitation activities. It also examines the potential legal thresholds for …

How Should Rural Policy Be Evaluated If It Aims To Foster Community Involvement In Environmental Management?, Katrin Prager, Birte Nienaber, Barbara Neumann, Alistair Phillips

Faculty of Law, Humanities and the Arts - Papers (Archive)

This paper brings together different theoretical perspectives to propose an evaluation framework for policies which have the explicit aim to foster communities' involvement in the management of their natural environment in the context of sustainable rural development, such as the EU LEADER programme, Australia's Caring for Our Country, and UNESCO Biosphere Reserves. Previous policy evaluations have over-simplified the complex social-ecological systems on which these policies are intended to act, have lacked specification of the policy level they address and were predicated on the assumption that policies can be designed to produce predictable outcomes. Based on a concept of ‘complex realities’ …

Carbon Offsets Can Do More Environmental Harm Than Good, Sharon Beder

Faculty of Law, Humanities and the Arts - Papers (Archive)

When was the last time you booked a flight? That extra A$1 in the final stages of booking may seem a small price to pay for offsetting the carbon emissions you generate travelling by air. But globally and across consumer companies, offsets are not only green-washing, but can do more harm than good.

Environmental Assessments In The Marine Areas Of The Polar Regions, Robin M. Warner

Faculty of Law, Humanities and the Arts - Papers (Archive)

The marine areas of the polar regions represent some of the most pristine and environmentally sensitive habitats in the world, as well as hosting a variety of threatened species. Environ-mental assessment of human activities with the potential for significant impacts on the spe-cies, habitats and ecosystems of these remote marine areas is an essential component of any governance regime for the polar regions. The term “environmental assessment” as used in this chapter encompasses not only prior environmental impact assessment (EIA), but also ongoing monitoring of impacts on the marine environment, post EIA obligations, strategic envi-ronmental assessment (SEA) and transboundary implementation …

Gaps In The Implementation Of Environmental Law At The National, Regional And Global Level, Gregory L. Rose

Faculty of Law, Humanities and the Arts - Papers (Archive)

Networked integrated and adaptive approaches to implementation and compliance may be the signature of the emerging generation of environmental law.

The first generation of environmental law saw the creation of specialist environmental administrations and the introduction of a suite of laws for them to administer on environmental impact assessment, pollution control, wilderness conservation and threatened species conservation. This was the generation of the 1972 Stockholm Conference on the Human Environment.

The second generation of environmental law saw a shift in focus to sustainable development, reflecting the increased participation of developing countries in international diplomatic initiatives on the environment. It signified …