The Permanent Court of International Justice defined international law in The Case of the S.S “Lotus” as follows:
“International law governs relations between independent States. The rules of law binding upon States therefore emanate from their own free will as expressed in conventions or by usages generally accepted as expressing principles of law and established in order to regulate the relations between these coexisting independent communities or with a view to the achievement of common aims.”
International environmental instruments primarily include conventions, protocols, and “soft-law” instruments such a guidelines or codes of conduct. In addition, agreements, resolutions, and declarations adopted to facilitate the implementation of treaties and conventions
are relevant. International environmental law assists in building and captures consensus between nations on goals for environmental protection and resource conservation and sustainable use.
“International law governs relations between independent States. The rules of law binding upon States therefore emanate from their own free will as expressed in conventions or by usages generally accepted as expressing principles of law and established in order to regulate the relations between these coexisting independent communities or with a view to the achievement of common aims.”
International environmental instruments primarily include conventions, protocols, and “soft-law” instruments such a guidelines or codes of conduct. In addition, agreements, resolutions, and declarations adopted to facilitate the implementation of treaties and conventions
are relevant. International environmental law assists in building and captures consensus between nations on goals for environmental protection and resource conservation and sustainable use.