Legal Tools in International Environmental Law

Environmental law concepts are expressed in conventions, international binding laws, state practice and soft law commitments. They may be applicable to all foreign community members. These are widely recognized and even approved in the practice of the state.

A special feature of international environmental law is that many environmental issues are governed by non–binding soft–law instruments that allow faster responses to international environmental issues. Governments tend to resist legally binding treaty regulation for different reasons but are much more likely to adopt a written action plan or resolution, at least voicing a political will to address an issue. The numerous constitutional standards of several countries must be followed when negotiating international agreements: for example, the way the national parliament must approve and enforce a treaty. The paper investigates the regulation system of international environmental law.