What is Environmental Law?

Over the last twenty years or so, the field of environmental law has become one of the fastest growing job sectors in the world. The reasons for this are numerous, but perhaps one of the largest reasons for the growth in the field is due to the increased awareness of environmental science via global warming and other problems. While environmental law is a blanket term, its importance in protecting the environment is very important. There are very few recourses of action when international laws are broken in regards to the environment, so environmental law is one of the only ways.

In essence, environmental law has to do with international laws, conventions, treaties, statutes, regulations and common laws that are shared amongst all countries in the world. Environmental lawyers work with lawyers and officials from all over the world in order to make sure that certain environmental laws are agreed upon by all countries and enforced by them as well.

Environmental law can be broken up into two distinct categories: pollution and remediation.

Pollution Control Environmental Law: This section of environmental law focuses on reducing and controlling pollution all around the world. The results of this branch of environmental law can be seen in things like the Clean Air Act in the United States and other similar laws in place in other countries all around the world. The goal is to regulate carbon emissions and other pollution problems in order to help clean up the environment as best as possible. Some developing countries are in a pickle when it comes to pollution control laws because they do not have the access to cleaner technologies. Often times, the more developed countries will provide aid in order to help control pollution problems in developing and over-populated countries, which tend to have the highest levels of pollution per capita. There are also incentives put in place in order to encourage corporations to enact self-regulated pollution controls on themselves- the results have been mixed, for the most part.

Remediation Environmental Law: Environmental remediation involves the removal of pollution and other environmental problems that have already happened. So rather than trying to prevent pollution and other problems, this branch of environmental law seeks to solve problems that have already occurred. For example, if a toxic dump happened, it would be the responsibility of this branch of environmental law to help clean up the soil, water and the rest of the contaminated site. This branch will take action when there are no set laws or regulations that can be enforced due to special circumstances.

Peter is a freelance writer for a host of community newspapers, news blogs, environmental magazines and web sites. He received an environmental law degree from the University of Washington.