International Environmental Law is 175 Years Old

Abstract

The article deals with the history and trends of development of the international environmental law in connection with its 175th anniversary, which is celebrated on August 2, 2014. It discusses the basic principles and approaches used by international lawyers to highlight in the history of the international environmental law, its main stages and eras. The major events and documents that shaped the development of the main ways of international environmental law at every stage of its development are analyzed in detail. The question is asked, whether “the era of Rio” is coming to its sunset at the end of XX century, and whether a new socalled “energy/climate era” is emerging in its place. The basic disadvantages that accompany the process of progressive development and codifi cation of the international environmental law, as well as its special principles, are identifi ed and options and solutions are provided.

Keywords

• international environmental law
• periodization of history
• “stockholm era”
• unep
• “energy/climate era”