Introduction

The introduction to the book is divided in two parts. In the first part, the editors introduce the main concepts and outlines of the book. They recognise the new challenges imposed by the Anthropocene with respect to the current climate and environmental emergencies, which require new epistemological paradigms. For lawyers, this means going beyond a pure sectoral and positivistic perspective, adopting a multidisciplinary approach to the topic. This pluralistic view has always been embedded in comparative law, proposed here as the most suitable instrument to analyse the relationship between the Anthropocene and the law.

In the second part of the introduction, the book’s structure is described, with a short presentation of the contents and findings of each chapter. In the “open-ended” conclusion, the editors summarise the guiding ideas of the book, highlighting the common perspective and intents showed by all contributors to this collective effort.