Environmental Law
Environmental law encompasses regulations aimed at protecting the natural environment and human health from pollution, conserving natural resources, and addressing climate change. It covers air and water quality, waste management, endangered species, and environmental impact assessment. This category explores how different jurisdictions balance environmental protection with economic development.
CERCLA and Superfund
Introduction The Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) , commonly known as Superfund, was enacted in 1980 to address the cleanup of hazardous waste sites. …
China's Waste Import Ban
The Guojinling Prohibition China’s waste import ban (guójìn lìng) — the National Sword policy — was announced in July 2017 and fully implemented by January 2018, fundamentally reshaping global …
Chinese Environmental Law
Constitutional and Ideological Foundations Chinese environmental law operates within the constitutional and ideological framework of the People’s Republic of China. Article 26 of the …
Chinese Soil Pollution Law
Soil Pollution Prevention and Control Law (2019) The Soil Pollution Prevention and Control Law (Tu Rang Wu Ran Fangzhi Fa, 土壤污染防治法), effective 1 January 2019, is China’s first comprehensive …
Chinese Water Law
Water Law (2002 and 2016 Amendment) The Water Law of the People’s Republic of China (shuǐ fǎ) was enacted in 2002, replacing the 1988 Water Law, and was amended in 2016. The Law establishes the …
Clean Air Act
Introduction The Clean Air Act (CAA) , originally enacted in 1970 and substantially amended in 1977 and 1990, is the primary federal statute governing air quality in the United States. The CAA …
Clean Water Act
Introduction The Clean Water Act (CWA) , originally enacted as the Federal Water Pollution Control Act of 1972, is the primary federal statute regulating water pollution in the United States. The CWA …
Climate Change Law in Australia
Introduction Climate change law in Australia addresses the legal framework for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and adapting to the impacts of climate change. Emissions Reduction Targets Australia …
Climate Change Law in Brazil
Introduction Climate change law in Brazil addresses the legal framework for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and adapting to the impacts of climate change. Emissions Reduction Targets Brazil has …
Climate Change Law in Canada
Introduction Climate change law in Canada addresses the legal framework for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and adapting to the impacts of climate change. Emissions Reduction Targets Canada has …
Climate Change Law in Japan
Introduction Climate change law in Japan addresses the legal framework for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and adapting to the impacts of climate change. Emissions Reduction Targets Japan has …
Climate Change Law in Mexico
Introduction Climate change law in Mexico addresses the legal framework for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and adapting to the impacts of climate change. Emissions Reduction Targets Mexico has …
Climate Change Law in Nigeria
Introduction Climate change law in Nigeria addresses the legal framework for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and adapting to the impacts of climate change. Emissions Reduction Targets Nigeria has …
Climate Change Law in South Africa
Introduction Climate change law in South Africa addresses the legal framework for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and adapting to the impacts of climate change. Emissions Reduction Targets South …
Climate Change Law in South Korea
Introduction Climate change law in South Korea addresses the legal framework for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and adapting to the impacts of climate change. Emissions Reduction Targets South …
Environmental Judicial Review in the United Kingdom
Introduction Environmental judicial review challenges the legality of decisions and actions of public authorities that affect the environment. The United Kingdom is a party to the Aarhus Convention on …
Environmental Law in Australia
Introduction Australian environmental law is characterised by its federal structure, the primacy of Commonwealth legislation for matters of national significance, and the continued importance of …
Environmental Law in Brazil
Introduction Environmental law in Brazil (Direito Ambiental) is among the most developed in the developing world, reflecting the country’s unique position as home to the Amazon rainforest, the …
Environmental Law in Canada
Constitutional Foundations Environmental law in Canada operates within the constitutional division of powers, with no single level of government possessing exclusive jurisdiction over environmental …
Environmental Law in Japan
Overview and Framework Legislation Japan’s modern environmental law regime is anchored by the Basic Environment Act (Kankyo Kihon Ho, Act No. 91 of 1993), replacing the earlier Basic Act for …
Environmental Law in Mexico
Introduction Mexican environmental law is primarily governed by the General Law of Ecological Balance and Environmental Protection (Ley General del Equilibrio Ecológico y la Protección al Ambiente, …
Environmental Law in Nigeria
Introduction Environmental law in Nigeria has evolved significantly in response to the environmental challenges posed by rapid urbanization, industrial development, and particularly oil and gas …
Environmental Law in South Africa
Introduction South African environmental law is built on a constitutional foundation, with section 24 of the Constitution guaranteeing the right to an environment that is not harmful to health or …
Environmental Law in South Korea
Introduction South Korean environmental law has developed rapidly since the 1980s, evolving from a pollution-control approach to a comprehensive system encompassing climate change, biodiversity, and …
Environmental Public Interest Litigation in China
Environmental public interest litigation (huanjing gongyi susong, 环境公益诉讼) is one of the most significant developments in Chinese procedural law. Introduced through amendments to the Civil Procedure …
Environmental Regulation in Australia
Introduction Environmental regulation in Australia establishes the legal framework for the protection of the environment, including air quality, water quality, biodiversity, and waste management. …
Environmental Regulation in Brazil
Introduction Environmental regulation in Brazil establishes the legal framework for the protection of the environment, including air quality, water quality, biodiversity, and waste management. …
Environmental Regulation in Canada
Introduction Environmental regulation in Canada establishes the legal framework for the protection of the environment, including air quality, water quality, biodiversity, and waste management. …
Environmental Regulation in Japan
Introduction Environmental regulation in Japan establishes the legal framework for the protection of the environment, including air quality, water quality, biodiversity, and waste management. …
Environmental Regulation in Mexico
Introduction Environmental regulation in Mexico establishes the legal framework for the protection of the environment, including air quality, water quality, biodiversity, and waste management. …
Environmental Regulation in Nigeria
Introduction Environmental regulation in Nigeria establishes the legal framework for the protection of the environment, including air quality, water quality, biodiversity, and waste management. …
Environmental Regulation in South Africa
Introduction Environmental regulation in South Africa establishes the legal framework for the protection of the environment, including air quality, water quality, biodiversity, and waste management. …
Environmental Regulation in South Korea
Introduction Environmental regulation in South Korea establishes the legal framework for the protection of the environment, including air quality, water quality, biodiversity, and waste management. …
Environmental Regulation in the United Kingdom
Introduction Environmental regulation in the United Kingdom has developed significantly since the Environmental Protection Act 1990 (EPA 1990), which established the framework for integrated pollution …
EU Emissions Trading System (EU ETS): Cap-and-Trade, CBAM, and Market Stability
Introduction The EU Emissions Trading System (EU ETS), established by Directive 2003/87/EC, is the world’s first and largest international carbon market, covering approximately 40% of EU …
EU Environmental Law
Legal Basis and Principles EU environmental law derives its authority from Articles 191-193 TFEU. Article 191(1) establishes objectives: preserving, protecting, and improving environmental quality; …
EU Nature Restoration Law: Binding Targets, Ecosystems, and National Plans
Introduction The Nature Restoration Law (Regulation (EU) 2024/…, adopted June 2024) is the first comprehensive EU legislation establishing legally binding restoration targets for terrestrial, …
French Biodiversity Law: Charte de l'Environnement, Loi Biodiversité, and Protected Species
French biodiversity law is a comprehensive legal framework for the protection of biological diversity, ecosystems, and natural habitats. The field is governed by the Code de l’environnement, the …
French Carbon Pricing
The French Carbon Tax (Taxe Carbone) France introduced a carbon tax, formally known as the Contribution Climat-Énergie (CCE), under the Loi de Finances pour 2014 (Law No. 2013-1278 of 29 December …
French Climate Litigation
Climate Litigation in France Climate litigation has emerged as a powerful instrument for compelling governmental climate action in France. French courts, particularly the administrative courts, have …
French Environmental Law
Constitutional Framework French environmental law (droit de l’environnement) derives constitutional authority from the Charter for the Environment (Charte de l’environnement) of 2004, …
German Environmental Law
Constitutional Framework German environmental law (Umweltrecht) is grounded in Article 20a of the Basic Law (Grundgesetz, GG) , introduced in 1994 as a state objective (Staatsziel). Article 20a …
German Environmental Law
Constitutional Framework German environmental law operates within the constitutional framework of Article 20a GG, which establishes environmental protection as a state objective (Staatsziel): …
National Environmental Policy Act
Introduction The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) , enacted in 1970, is the foundational statute of American environmental law. NEPA establishes a national policy to promote environmental …
Overview of German Environmental Law
German environmental law encompasses a comprehensive framework protecting natural resources. Key statutes include the Bundesnaturschutzgesetz (BNatSchG) for nature conservation, the Gesetz zur Ordnung …
REACH Regulation: Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation, and Restriction of Chemicals
Introduction Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 — REACH (Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals) — is the most comprehensive chemicals regulation in the world, establishing a …
Russian Environmental Impact Assessment: State Environmental Expert Review (Gosudarstvennaya Ekologicheskaya Ekspertiza)
Environmental impact assessment in Russia is governed by the Federal Law on Environmental Expert Review (No. 174-FZ of 23 November 1995) and the Federal Law on Environmental Protection (No. 7-FZ of 10 …
Russian Environmental Law
Constitutional Foundations Russian environmental law is anchored in the Constitution of the Russian Federation (1993). Article 42 guarantees the right of every person to a favourable environment …
Russian Nature Protection Law: Zapovedniki, National Parks, and the Red Data Book
Russian nature protection law establishes a comprehensive framework for the conservation of biological diversity, the protection of specially designated natural areas, and the conservation of …
The Climate Change Act 2008
Introduction The Climate Change Act 2008 (CCA 2008) is the foundational piece of UK climate change legislation, establishing the world’s first legally binding long-term framework for reducing …
UK Environmental Law
Sources of UK Environmental Law UK environmental law derives from statutes, secondary legislation, retained EU law (preserved by the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018), and the common law. The …
US Environmental Law
Foundations of US Environmental Law US environmental law is a body of federal statutes, regulations, and common law doctrines protecting the environment and public health. The modern framework emerged …
Waste Regulation in the United Kingdom
Introduction Waste regulation in the United Kingdom governs the management, treatment, and disposal of waste, with the objectives of protecting human health and the environment and promoting the …