Search

Coral reefs need strong management and protection efforts. However, public awareness and legal instruments concerning coral reefs are still insufficient. An ecosystem service model perspective is needed for the optimum management of that ecosystem. This study examined the relationship between ecosystem services management in international, national and local environmental laws and the coral reef ecosystem. An analytical descriptive qualitative method with the environmental services model and statutory regulation approaches was used. The researcher found a good relationship between the ecosystem services management in the international, national and local environmental laws and the policy planning concerning the sustainable development of the coral reef ecosystem. However, not all of the existing regulations support the environmental services model. It is because the regulatory framework is not complete, and existing norms do not support the efforts to improve people's welfare. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Green roofs provide multiple benefits to households and urban neighbourhoods by lowering temperatures, reducing energy costs, and reducing stormwater runoff. However, green roofs are expensive and may not be available to all residents, which raises questions about who benefits from green roofs and urban policies that support this technology. Policies to support different social groups' access to this green infrastructure is important for achieving equity. This study aims to identify and analyze to what extent existing different rooftop greening incentives and mandatory policies in three American cities, including New York, Chicago, and Philadelphia, address environmental justice. Nine policies were analyzed from three cities based on three dimensions of environmental justice. The results show that all policies have neglected a degree of distributional, recognitional, and procedural environmental justice in their policies. Although incentives try to advance distributional justice by implementing green roofs in different parts of the city, these policies do not pay enough attention to support themes such as zoning, size, rental status, land value, and affordability in all urban areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Addressing environmental issues in policy making requires recognising these issues as part of a complex socio-ecological system. The evidence base for such policies and associated monitoring and implementation measures, as well as related official indicators, statistics and environmental accounts are receiving increasing attention. This paper explores the potential of citizen science as a non-traditional source of data to complement the current data production process for evidence-based policy-making, using pollution of surface waters and its effect on associated ecosystems as an example. The paper develops a framework that helps to explore the official data production process in relation to different purposes of environmental policies. This highlights different challenges that the current official data production process sees itself confronted with in relation to the different purposes of the policies and associated monitoring regimes. These questions are explored with reference to the case of evidence-based policy making on water quality of surface freshwater in the EU, with a focus on Luxembourg. The analysis is based on extensive documentary analysis and literature review, as well as a series of interviews and participatory workshops with various stakeholders, and first results of a pilot project work with engaged citizen volunteers to solicit data on water quality with a focus on its nutrient content. On this basis, this paper argues that citizen science has the clear potential to meaningfully contribute both to the evidence base for policy and practice, as well as to an improved governance process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The global environmental conferences convened by the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) during the last fifty years have contributed to the development of international environmental law and institution-building. Yet, given the deteriorating state of the global environment they are but one element of international environmental governance. While they were important to bring environmental issues to the attention of states, the time for agenda-setting seems over. Rather the international community must move on to the implementation of existing binding and non-binding rules and principles. While the UNGA continues to play an important role in the context of sustainable development and the Agenda 2030 process and is, indeed a stable platform for international cooperation on environmental issues, it seems that the time for comprehensive global environmental conferences may have come to an end, unless more innovative mechanisms for the implementation of international environmental law and policy are brought forward. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The floriculture sector is booming in Ethiopia, making the country the second largest flower exporter in Africa and one of the largest suppliers of flowers globally. Despite the enormous advantages of the Ethiopian floriculture industry to the country's economy, the industry's unsustainability related to environmental and human rights is growing. Failure to protect the environment can have profound negative impacts on long-term economic development and human rights, including the right to life, adequate food, water and housing. The floriculture industry has been identified as having the potential to grow and contribute positively to the agricultural transformation and economy of Ethiopia. Policy, laws and regulations play a vital role in the implementation of any regulatory objective. During the last decade, Ethiopia has developed many policies and laws that link to improving the environment, and the flower farm industry itself has adopted self-regulation and standards, enhancing the protection of workers and the environment. But there is increasing evidence that the economic benefits of the flower industry come at the expense of the environment. So, what is the impact of these State and non-State regulations on a safe and clean environment? This paper aims to analyse how, why and under what circumstances environmental policy implementation might work or fail, by investigating the challenges for the floriculture industry relating to the intensive use of pesticides and water, and inappropriate waste disposal in the policy implementation process. It is safe to say that Ethiopia has developed a lot of legislation on the environment but the challenge of effective monitoring and enforcement remains. This paper concludes with recommendations, based on the fact that the principles of environmental rights, the right to life and the right to development cannot be realised in the absence of the right to a healthy environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since proclaiming its independence, the Republic of Indonesia has a large gold-mining industry (PT Indonesia has always been a country of great agrarian The people of Indonesia to the gate of independence. [Extracted from the article]

The article examines how environmental law policies in Indonesia has been affected by the implementation of regional autonomy. Topics covered include necessity of the integration of "eco-cratic" principles and regional autonomy for the realisation of ecological sustainability and community welfare in the age of regional autonomy, importance of the reinforcement of regional authority in the field of the environment, and problems with political will behind environmental law in Indonesia.

The article analyzes the experience of Poland in taxation of renewable energy and energy infrastructure. Topics covered include current energy, environmental and tax policies of Poland for renewables in the context of legal standards introduced by the European Union (EU), lessons from the experience of other member states of the EU and the legal conditions relevant to the taxation of renewables.

A paper which examines the complementarity of international economic and environmental laws, and their implementation in achieving sustainable development, is presented. Topics covered include need for cooperation between economic and environmental law among states, challenges posed by the sustainable development principle to the implementation of environmental law, and factors compromising implementation of environmental treaties.

A comparative analysis of several climate litigation actions that demanded positive regulatory impacts is presented. Topics covered include reasons for considering the actions in these cases as emblematic, viability of a lawsuit to oblige the state of São Paulo, Brazil to implement measures needed to comply with the guidelines for mitigating emissions of greenhouse gases as expressed in the Climate Change Policy of the State of São Paulo and cases of climate litigation.

The article discusses environmental protection of mountain regions in former Soviet Union countries. Topics explored include the partial application of natural resources management initiatives to the mountain areas of Russia, the adoption of regional environmental policies focused on mountain-area protection, and the identification of threats such as deforestation, overgrazing, and illegal hunting activities.

The article discusses research which investigated how the environmental performance index (EPI) of countries and other related indicators influence their environmental democracy index (EDI). Topics explored include the EDI coverage such as citizen participation in environmental decision making and implementation of environmental policies by the government, the review of published studies concerning environmental performance, and government intervention in environmental protection.

The article focuses on the inland water pollution control in Bangladesh. Topics discussed include competency preventing of regime to prevent inland water pollution with reference to major legal and policy responses from the government; the National Environmental Policy (NEP) 1992 for water quality and pollution control; and emphasis on water resource management and reduce environmental degradation.

The article discusses the highlights of the First Conference of the Parties (COP-1) of the Minamata Convention on Mercury held in Geneva, Switzerland in September 2017. Issues addressed at the conference include the implementation and financial mechanism of the Convention, which bans and phases out mercury mines, phases in a ban on the manufacture, import and export of certain mercury-containing products and controls emissions and releases of mercury, among other objectives.

The article discusses a study on the progress and transition towards a green economy in Morocco. Topics covered include the environmental communication practices of Moroccan companies, challenges that have hampered the country's efforts to anchor the principles of sustainable development, such as the adverse effects of climate change and the loss of biodiversity, and environmental report or a sustainable development report that Moroccan companies are obliged to publish.

The article discusses questions regarding radioactive waste management policies as it relates to the veracity of the political intention to foster international cooperation. Topics covered include international legislative texts that regulate radioactive waste management, the views of the international legal environment on the establishment of shared nuclear waste repositories, and possible future developments on such repositories.

The article examines the North versus South debate in global environmental politics. Topics discussed include the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen, Denmark in 2009, the challenges that environmental change presents for the vulnerable countries, and the continued disagreement over who should bear the responsibility of the environmental damages.

The article focuses on China's plan to launch a national emissions trading scheme (ETS). Topics discussed include the possibility that China will seek to link its ETS with other ETS schemes, the various forms of linkage and their different effects, and signs that China and the European Union are very likely to cooperate in the field of emissions trading.

The article offers information on the status and most recent meetings of the Compliance Committees established under two protocols to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). Topics discussed include the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety and the Nagoya Protocol on Access and Benefit Sharing, the protocols' focus on environmental law and policy, and their compliance mechanisms.

The article discusses the waste treatment laws in Ukraine, and its harmonization with the European Union's (EU) environmental policy. Topics discussed include Ukraine's desire to harmonise its environmental legislation with the norms of the EU; the expected positive effects of aligning the two legal systems, such as a postive environment and sustainable development; and the need to implement a new economic policy in Ukraine.

The article discusses the Paris Agreement, an international agreement within the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and mentions India's commitment towards achieving the goals set by the agreement. Topics discussed include a brief description of the Paris Agreement, the India's intended nationally determined contributions to reduce emissions, and recommendations for effective implementations of environmental policies for climate change mitigation among developing countries.

The article provides an overview of the introduction of policy documents and legislation aimed to implement the Intended Nationally Determined Contribution (INDC) of China in 2016. It considers whether the resource tax design could aid China build a low-carbon, energy-efficient industrial system and meet its national plan on climate change. It discusses the use of domestic programmes by China to penalise air pollution and confront resource misuse.

The article presents international developments in environmental law and policy in the marine sector associated to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) in 2016. The Second Preparatory Conference for legally binding instrument development on marine biodiversity beyond national jurisdiction was held from August 26 to September 9. The Seventeenth Meeting of UN Open-ended Informal Consultative Process on Oceans and the Law of the Sea focuses on plastics and marine debris.

The article discusses the role environmental courts on the protection and preservation of the environment, and sustainable development. Topics discussed include types of evidence in environmental litigation such as testimonial evidence, guiding principles in the Nigeria's National Policy on Environment, and guidelines for environmental sentencing.

Information about the meeting of the Committee of Permanent Representatives (OECPR) to the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) that was held in Nairobi, Kenya from February 15-19, 2016, is presented. Topics include environmental policy issues, sustainable development and the implementation of the Paris Agreement on climate change. It cites the internal and external developments of the UNEP.

The article offers information on the 70th regular session of the United Nations (UN) General Assembly (UNGA-70) to be held in Geneva, Switzerland from May 4, 2016 to June 5, 2016 which features the international environmental law and policy to promote environmental protection.

The article discusses the role of the small island developing states (SIDS) on the implementation of the Paris agreement for climate change. It examines the impact of climate change which could lead to economic loss and damage. It cites the development of international law to prevent climate change such as the reduction of carbon emission.

The article focuses on the environmental deterioration as the major issues of the modern development of Russia and countries of the former Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR). Topics discussed include environmental legislative inefficiency as a reason for deterioration of the environment; influence of political power on environmental crisis; and lack of environmental quality.

Information about the 11th United Nations Forum on Forests (UNFF-11) held at United Nations (UN) Headquarters in New York from May 4â€15, 2015 on international arrangement on forests (IAF) is presented. Topics discussed include promotion of management, conservation and sustainable development of forests as the aim of UNFF; environmental policy and law which are required to be executed by the UNFF; and steps taken to improve countries' access to forest-related funds.

The article focuses on providing international safety and assistance to environmental migrants who have been impacted by global climate change. It states that based on United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC's) provisions, priority should be given on adaptation to changing environmental conditions while developing a policy on climate-change-related displacement. It mentions that a policy that hears those who are affected and ensure their dignity could be a successful one.

UNGA - 69 Preview of the Environmental Agenda 402OWG-SDG-10, 11, 12 and 13 - Brief Review of Work on the Sustainable Development Goals 406UNFCCC Climate Summit - A Glimmer of Hope "Annalisa Savaresi" 416ICJ - The Court's Environmental Agenda 417UNCLOS - The 24th Meeting of States Parties "Anastasia Galilaiou and Elsa Tsioumani" 419 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rule of Law and the Environment - Daniel Barstow Magraw 201The Rise of Public Trusteeship in International Environmental Law - Peter H. Sand 210The Human Security of Endangered Peoples: Indigenous Groups Living in Isolation and First Contact - Dinah Shelton 218Innovations dans la législation environnementale brésilienne: le contrôle social et la protection des forêts - par Paulo Affonso Leme Machado 233ASEAN Cultural Heritage -Forging an Identity for Realisation of an ASEAN Community in 2015?- - Koh Kheng-Lian 237EU Enforcement of Environmental Laws: From Great Principles to Daily Practice - Improving Citizen Involvement - Ludwig Krämer - 247Final Disposal of High-level Radioactive Waste: A Never-ending Story? - Eckard Rehbinder 256Discussion - Public Participation 267 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

USA - Species Conservation Incentives "C. Josh Donlan, Todd Gartner, Timothy Male and Ya-Wei Li" 162India - The Judiciary's Role in Environmental Governance "The Case of Delhi" (Magali Dreyfus) 167 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

UNECE/Water Convention - MoP-6 "Achievements, New Tools and Future Challenges" (Francesca Romanin Jacur) 42 UNECE: Aarhus Convention - Compliance Committee "Deliberations" (Elsa Tsioumani) 46 Mauritius/UK - The Chagos Archipelago "Latest Developments" 50 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

China - Greenhouse Gas Emission Reduction Climate Change Legislation (Mingde Cao) 52 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

SPREP / AGM-23 - Pacific Environment Moving Forward (David Sheppard) 351 Pacific Islands Forum - Taking an Oceanscape Approach 353 Pacific Islands Forum - Leaders Collaborate to Address Key Concerns 355 Earth Observation from Satellites: Supporting the Outcomes of UNCSD (Rio+20) - (Stephen A. Briggs and Stephen Ward) 357 EU - Developments in Environmental Law (Annalisa Savaresi) 365 EU - Legally Binding Agreement on Forests in Europe - The Process 370 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

GEF-42 - New Work Programme and New CEO (Soledad Aguilar) 156WTO - Tuna-Dolphin Trade Dispute (Appeal Decided) 157INTERPOL / UNEP / ICECE-1 - Environmental Crime Summit (Onelica Andrade) 159Rule of Law for Nature - Ideas and Developments (Christina Voigt) 164IELRC - North-South Context (Fostering Academic Research) "Philippe Cullet" 166 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

UNCSD (Rio+20) - The Future We Wanted (The Future We Will Get) "Palitha Kohona" 137One Participant's Diary - (Ann Powers) 140IPBES / SOP.2 - Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services Platform (Formal Establishment) "Sarah Lucas" 143UNICPOLOS - Marine Renewable Energy 144UNPFII-11 - Focus on the Doctrine of Discovery (Elsa Tsioumani) 145CITES - Animals and Plants Committees (Promoting Species Trade Controls) 146UNFCCC - Bonn Climate Conference (Heavy Traffic on the Road to Qatar) "Soledad Aguilar and Eugenia Recio" 149The Clean Development Mechanism - The Past and Future (Chris Juhnke) 151 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

UNCSD (Rio+20) - The Future We Wanted (The Future We Will Get) "Palitha Kohona" 137 One Participant's Diary - (Ann Powers) 140 IPBES / SOP.2 - Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services Platform (Formal Establishment) "Sarah Lucas" 143 UNICPOLOS - Marine Renewable Energy 144 UNPFII-11 - Focus on the Doctrine of Discovery (Elsa Tsioumani) 145 CITES - Animals and Plants Committees (Promoting Species Trade Controls) 146 UNFCCC - Bonn Climate Conference (Heavy Traffic on the Road to Qatar) "Soledad Aguilar and Eugenia Recio" 149 The Clean Development Mechanism - The Past and Future (Chris Juhnke) 151 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

UN / GA 66th Session - Agenda Commences 174 Basel Convention - Turning Wastes into Valuable Resources "Promoting Compliance with Obligations?" (Katharina Kummer Peiry) 177 UN / GA / Marine WG-4 - Toward Coordination at Global Level (Ann Powers) 180 UNEP / Rio+20 Consultation - Major Group Input Takes Shape 182 UNFCCC - Climate Change Roadshow Moves to Bonn (Ian Fry) 185 CBD / ICNP-1 - All about Compliance (Elisa Morgera) 189 CITES / AC-25 - Animals Committee: Increasing Cooperation (Elisa Morgera) 191 Aarhus Convention / MOP-4 - Ensuring Global Relevance? (Elisa Morgera) 194 The Compliance Mechanism - Outcomes and Stocktaking - Veit Koester 196 UNECE / Water Convention - Progress on Aspects of Implementation (Laura Covino-Kerpelman) 205 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Marine Genetic Resources beyond National Jurisdiction "Coordination and Harmonisation of Governance Regimes" (Arianna Broggiato) 35 Environmental Damage "A New Challenge for China, Continuing Challenges for Western Legal Systems" (Mariachiara Alberton, Luciano Butti, Marco Cremonini, Massimo Martinelli, Manuela Molinaro, Yanming Ren, Patrizia Scalas, Luigi Torriano, Guangxuan Xie, Fang Yu, Hongzhen Zhang) 42 GEF / 39th Council - Few Surprises in the Meeting (Soledad Aguilar) 52 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

UN / GA 65th Session - Environmental Policy and Legal Resolutions (Elisa Morgera) 2 UNCSD-Rio+20 / ISM-1 - Finding Common Ground (Elsa Tsioumani) 9 UNFCCC / Kyoto Protocol - Outcomes of the Cancún Conferenc (Soledad Aguilar) 10 Clean Development Mechanism - Proposal for an Appeals Process (Michael Bothe, Thilo Marauhn, Eckard Rehbinder, Ayse Martina Böhringer, Johan Horst) 14 CMS / ACCOBAMS / MOP-4 - Geographical Area Overlapping with ASCOBANS "Legal or Other Implications" (Elizabeth Maruma Mrema and Heidrun Frisch) 18 CMS - International Tiger Forum "Reflections" (Aline Kühl) 22 Montreal Protocol / MOP-22 - "Universal" Agreement Makes Limited Progress 24 INC Mercury-1 & 2 - Negotiations Commence 26 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

UN / GA-65 - Environmental Law and Policy on the Agenda (Elisa Morgera) 196 LOS - Law of the Sea Meetings (Ann Powers) 200 UNEP / IEG / 1st Meeting - International Environmental Governance Reform "A Briefing for the UN Missions" (Angela Cropper) 202 FAO - Council and Committee on Agriculture "Recent Activities" (Elsa Tsioumani) 205 - Wildlife Legislation for Empowerment of the Poor (Elisa Morgera and Elsa Tsioumani) 206 IPBES - New Science-Policy Platform? 208 CBD / ABS-9 - Seeking Agreement on Access and Benefit Sharing (Elsa Tsioumani) 209 UNFCCC - Progress on Climate Commitments and Cooperation? 212 - The Disappearance of "1.5 Degrees Celsius" 215 CMS - Inquiry into Future Directions for the Convention 216 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Australia - Environmental Policy in the Howard and Rudd Eras (Frank G. Nicholls) 247 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Germany - The East's Contribution to International Conservation Part 1 (Sandra Chaney and Rita Gudermann) 116 Italy - New GMO Authorisation Stirs Controversy (Deirdre Exell Pirro) 124 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Noise pollution is a major problem in cities around the world. The current methods to assess it neglect to represent the real exposure experienced by the citizens themselves, and therefore could lead to wrong conclusions and a biased representations. In this paper we present a novel approach to monitor noise pollution involving the general public. Using their mobile phones as noise sensors, we provide a low cost solution for the citizens to measure their personal exposure to noise in their everyday environment and participate in the creation of collective noise maps by sharing their geo-localized and annotated measurements with the community. Our prototype, called NoiseTube, can be found online [1]. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

UN / GA 64th Session - Environmental Policy and Legal Developments (Elisa Morgera) 2 UNFCCC / CP.15 - The Outcome from Copenhagen: 1. A Building Block or a Faltering Step? (George de Berdt Romilly and Lorne S. Clark) 11 UNFCCC / CP.15 - The Outcome from Copenhagen: 2. At the Limits of Global Diplomacy? (Joanna Depledge) 17 UNFCCC / CP.15 - The Outcome from Copenhagen: 3. Success or Failure? (Richard L. Ottinger) 22 UNFCCC / CP.15 - The Outcome from Copenhagen: 4. The Birth of a New Era? (Jim MacNeill) 24 CBD / ABS-8 - Moving Towards a Protocol? (Elsa Tsioumani) 26 FAO / 36th Conference - Illegal Unreported and Unregulated Fishing -- A New Treaty 30 UNEP - First Work on Mercury Instrument 31 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Information about the Paris Climate Change Conference that was held in Ottawa, Ontario on January 23, 2016, is presented. Topics include the development of international environmental policy and law, the implementation of the sustainable development goals for environmental development and the transparency in organisation. It featured several attendees of the symposium including Jean Lebel, Deirdre Kent and David Runnalls.

UN / GA 64th Session - Agenda Items 184 Basel Convention - "Closer Cooperation, not Merger" (Rebecca Paveley) 188 UNFCCC - Bonn III Climate Talks - Treading Water - (Joanna Depledge) 190 Oceans and LOS - Consultative Process Reviews Its Own Achievements (Elsa Tsioumani) 192 ITPGRFA / GB-3 - Financial Target and Benefit-Sharing Fund Considered (Elsa Tsioumani) 194 UNEP - Environmental Governance - High Level Representatives Meet - 196 ISA and CLCS - Recent Developments (Elisa Morgera) 198 World Heritage Convention - The List of World Heritage in Danger (Tim Badman and Guy Debonnet) 201 CITES / 58th SC - Implementation Decisions and Recommendations (Soledad Aguilar and Reem Hajjar) 205 IMO - The Sound Management of Wastes Generated at Sea - MARPOL, not Basel - (Louise Angélique de La Fayette) 207 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Elizabeth Haub Prize - 2007 Award for Environmental Diplomacy 215 The Wake-up Call (Mohamed A. Sahnoun) 219 Antarctic Treaty System - Recent Developments (Elisa Morgera) 221 G-8 - Agreeing on Long-Term Goal for Climate Change Mitigation (Soledad Aguilar) 224 IWC / 61st AM - Talks Restart (Joanna Depledge) 227 Environmental Crisis Management (Manisha Shekhar) 228 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]