Laws generally reflect and shape a society’s norms. They can change attitudes towards particular aspects of life, and control behavior. Laws can be defined as codes of conduct appropriate to the values of the community drafting and enforcing them. There are of course many types and sources of law, such as customary or traditional, canon, common, and civil law. These may be written or unwritten, but all define acceptable behavior within that society. Codes of conduct with regard to the environment are contained in all sources of law, some of which date back thousands of years.
Environmental law is a category of law, much as are laws regarding transportation or criminal activity. The definition of what constitutes an environmental law is as wide as the definition of environment itself. Environmental law can be generally defined as the body of law which contains elements to control the human impact on the earth. Elements of environmental law can be found throughout a society’s legal codes, whether specifically referred to as “environmental” or not.
Environmental law can be divided into two major streams—international environmental law and national environmental law.
Environmental law is a category of law, much as are laws regarding transportation or criminal activity. The definition of what constitutes an environmental law is as wide as the definition of environment itself. Environmental law can be generally defined as the body of law which contains elements to control the human impact on the earth. Elements of environmental law can be found throughout a society’s legal codes, whether specifically referred to as “environmental” or not.
Environmental law can be divided into two major streams—international environmental law and national environmental law.