ABSTRACT

This chapter will explore and evaluate the general principles and sources of international environmental law and discuss their status and role in the global context. International environmental law is a highly fragmented area and determining the meaning and status of general principles is thus a complex task. Many revolve around the core issue of sustainable development, which is a diffi cult and contested concept itself. Principles that will be discussed include the notion of sustainable development, the precautionary principle, common but differentiated responsibility, inter-and intragenerational equity and the polluter pays principle.