ABSTRACT

Bringing together contributions from diplomats, UN agency officials, lawyers and academics, this book provides insight into the evolution of international environmental law, diplomacy and negotiating techniques. 

Based on first-hand experiences and extensive research, the chapters offer a blend of practice and theory, history and analysis, presenting a range of historical episodes and nuances and drawing lessons for future improvements to the processes of law-making and diplomacy. 

The book represents a synthesis of the most important messages to emerge from the annual course on Multilateral Environmental Agreements, delivered to diplomats and negotiators from around the world for the last decade by the University of Eastern Finland and the United Nations Environment Programme. The book will be of interest as a guide for negotiators and as a supplementary textbook and a reference volume for a wide range of students of law and environmental issues.

chapter |7 pages

Introduction

The substance and the structure of international environmental law-making and diplomacy

chapter |30 pages

Learning from the past

A reflection on the roles of people and problems in the development of international environmental law

chapter |17 pages

The Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety

A personal memoir on its creation, content and implementation

chapter |15 pages

Future prospects for enhancing sustainable use of natural resources

The role of international environmental governance after Rio+20