International environmental law and global public health

Abstract

The environment continues to be a source of ill-health for many people, particularly in developing countries. International environmental law offers a viable strategy for enhancing public health through the promotion of increased awareness of the linkages between health and environment, mobilization of technical and financial resources, strengthening of research and monitoring, enforcement of health-related standards, and promotion of global cooperation. An enhanced capacity to utilize international environmental law could lead to significant worldwide gains in public health.

Keywords

• Environmental health
• International law
• World health
• Environmental exposure/legislation
• Conservation of natural resources/legislation
• Environmental pollution
• Greenhouse effect
• Environment
• International cooperation
• Interinstitutional relations
• Developing countries