ABSTRACT
This chapter contributes to the understanding of the legal context within which a co-benefits approach can be efficiently developed. Several nested dimensions of law are relevant for the chapter. First, a governance dimension defines the general legal framework at the national level and the rights and duties of public as well as private actors. Second, a policy dimension whereby pieces of legislation are adopted at different scales: national or federal, regional or state, and local, often in sector-specific areas. The chapter highlights the link between the co-benefits approach and law, with the subsequent section providing a classification of laws. It considers to whom co-benefits are addressed, a basic step in law-making, before a short conclusion. In order to assess the legal context and the current rules in force as well as to screen future laws and regulations, classifications are a useful methodological tool.
