Environmental Law (IB)

Legislations

Refers to laws enacted by a legislative body, such as a parliament or congress

Common Law

Derives from judicial decisions and precedent established through court rulings

Administrative Regulations

Rules and regulations created by administrative agencies to implement laws

International Treaties

Agreements between sovereign states governing interactions between nations

Key concepts underpinning the rule of law

Equality, fairness, liberty, justice

Environmental Law

Includes the legal principles, regulations, and treaties governing the interaction between human activity and the environment

Equality

All individuals are equal before the law, regardless of status, wealth, or power

Fairness

Legal processes and decisions should be impartial and unbiased, ensuring fair treatment for all

Liberty

Laws should protect individual liberties and freedoms, limiting government intrusion into personal affairs

Justice

The legal system should strive to achieve justice by providing remedies for wrongs and ensuring accountability for violations

Management of natural resources

Regulating the extraction, use, and conservation of resources such as forests, minerals, fisheries, and water bodies

Pollution management

Establishing regulations to control and mitigate pollution of air, soil, and water, in order to protect human health and ecosystems

Biodiversity protection

Implementing measures to conserve and protect endangered species, wildlife habitats, and ecosystems to maintain biodiversity

Construction and development projects

Requiring Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs) to evaluate the potential environmental effects of major infrastructure projects before approval

Scope of environmental law

Environmental law covers various aspects of human-environment interactions, including (but not limited to) the following: