From Old Conservation Efforts to Modern Environmental Law

Before understanding the environmental law, lets know the basics first.

Law: The nature of law is generic. While an act is specific in nature, a law is made up of regulations that are enforced by authorities to maintain social order.
Act: An act is created when a bill is approved by parliament. An act amends an existing law or makes a new one. Compared to rules, regulations are more formal and detailed guidelines.
Convention: A convention is a framework or agreement that is signed by several nations to address a shared problem.
Protocol: A protocol is a written document that contains comprehensive details about the norms and practices of a convention.

What is Environmental Law?

The principles, policies, directives, and regulations that local, national, or international organizations develop and implement to govern how people interact with their surroundings are collectively referred to as environmental law.

Early Environmental Concerns (Pre-20th Century)

Ancient societies had their own laws to protect the environment. For example, the Romans and Greeks were very concerned about conserving water and land. There were no industries back then. Following the industrial revolution and modernization, environmental law became necessary. Toxic chemicals and hazardous gases were released into the environment as a result of technology use. Even in the 18th and 19th centuries, there were issues with smog, waste disposal, and deforestation. Although there was no such law in place at the time, people realized that this needed to be controlled.

Foundation of Modern Environmental Law (Early 20th Century)

Thus, the United States and other nations’ representatives made the decision to resolve environmental problems. The United States is home to Yellowstone National Park, the first national park in history. On March 1, 1872, President Ulysses S. Grant created it. The park boasts biodiversity and stunning hot springs. Non-Native Americans were not particularly aware of the park’s significance until the 19th century, but it eventually became a movement.

**Map of Yellowstone National Park c. 1900, northwest-central United States; from the 10th edition of the Encyclopædia Britannica**

The characteristics of Yellow Stone Park were recorded by the Hayden Geological Survey in 1871 and the Washburn-Langford-Doane Expedition in 1870. Yellowstone’s waterfalls, wildlife, geysers, and hot springs were exquisitely depicted by scientists, photographers, and artists. William Henry Jackson was a photographer, and Thomas Moran was a painter. The survey included them. After presenting their work to Congress, lawmakers agreed to safeguard this area because they understood its significance. The United States’ natural resources were being exploited at the time.

Two of the most powerful leaders came to prominence and advocated for the park’s preservation. Cornelius Hedges was a member of the Washburn expedition, and Ferdinand Hayden led the geological survey. Other nations began to follow the United States, including Canada and Australia. Banff National Park was created in 1885 and was Canada’s first national park. The early 1900s saw the start of additional conservation initiatives. Early legislation was created expressly to safeguard the environment and natural resources. During the 1950s and 1960s, pollution was a major issue. It began to have an impact on people’s health.

Emergence of International Environmental Law (1960s-1970s)

Rachel Carson’s book launched a new movement in the United States in 1962. In her book Silent Spring, which subsequently became a worldwide environmental movement, she emphasized the risks associated with the use of pesticides like DDT.

United Nations Involvement: The United Nations Conference on the Human Environment (Stockholm Conference), the first significant international environmental conference, took place in Stockholm in 1972. It was among the first actions taken to promote global cooperation. As a result, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) was established. Several nations passed important laws in 1970, such as the U.S. National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), which mandated Environmental Impact Assessments (EIA) for large-scale projects.

Development of International Agreements (1980s-1990s)

In the 1980s, ozone layer depletion became a serious worry. In order to preserve the ozone layer, international agreements such as the Vienna Convention (1985) and its Montreal Protocol (1987) were signed. Rio de Janeiro hosted the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED) in 1992. Another name for it was the Earth Summit. The 1990s saw the signing of significant accords such as the Rio Declaration, Agenda 21, and the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).

Modern Environmental Law (2000s-Present)

Kyoto Protocol and Paris Agreement: Compared to earlier frameworks, modern environmental law is far more detailed. The Kyoto Protocol (1997) was the first legally binding international agreement that mandated countries cut their greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. It was later succeeded by the 2015 Paris Agreement. Limiting global warming is the aim of the Paris Agreement. National commitments, also known as Nationally Determined Contributions or NDCs, are emphasized. All things considered, the environmental framework (national and international environmental governance structures) has evolved over time, but it still requires improvement because our planet is encountering new problems on a daily basis.

Conclusion

Over time, environmental law has changed. The framework for environmental protection is now relatively stronger and more efficient than it was with basic conservation efforts. The transboundary nature of environmental science has been recognized by world leaders. Both national and international organizations that discuss environmental issues, report on their progress, and point out areas for improvement are included in this framework.

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