This publication is designed to meet the demand for legal information and material, and serve as a source of reference of basic documents on international environmental law. The Environmental Law Branch of the Division of Policy Development and Law has provided support in the area of capacity building, including the production of publications on environmental law at both national and international levels. This book is the latest in the series of such publications.
Although there are many reference books on international law, there is a notable dearth of such books on environmental law, specifically. Where available, such books tend to be expensive and beyond the reach of many individuals and institutions. The purpose of this book is, therefore, to fill the vacuum much felt by those counterparts.
The selected texts contained in this publication are intended to be a handy reference book of upto- date information on environmental law. It provides a source of quick and easy reference for all those engaged in the field of environmental law and policy in Governments, parliaments, judiciaries, private and public sectors, national and regional institutions, civil society organizations, and the public needing to use basic environmental law texts in the course of their daily work. It brings together key policy documents, texts of major legal instruments in the field of environmental law and sustainable development as well as basic texts in the field of international law, indispensable for carrying out work in environmental law.