ABSTRACT
Over time, global environmental problems gradually moved up in importance on the agenda concerning the overall influence on the fundamental purpose of international law – the maintenance of peace. Hence, the transition from traditional problems to new challenges also informed the development of international law. Among the main fields of substantive international environmental law, the following might be outlined:
Nature conservation and protection of the terrestrial and marine environment (including fresh water and international watercourses and the combat desertification);
Climate and atmosphere (including ozone depletion and climate change); and
Hazardous substances and activities (including the nuclear sector and other hazardous substances and activities sector).
Certainly, other substantial fields of international environmental law might also be identified, such as noise pollution, industry and industrial accidents, and so forth; however, the fields which are examined in this chapter traditionally represent the bulk of the problems for the interstate system.