The purpose of this book is to assess the development of international environmental law in the Asia Pacific. Consideration is given to the impact upon the region of global, regional and subregional environmental law. An assessment is also undertaken of how certain states, and groups of states, have responded domestically and within their own subregions to these developments. A prominent theme throughout the book is the implementation of principles of sustainable development. For the purposes of this book the Asia Pacific is defined as essentially the states which comprise East and Southeast Asia, Australia, New Zealand and the island states of the Southwest Pacific. Occasional consideration is also given to the states of South Asia. The book commences with an overview of international environmental law, the role of international organizations, and the development of regional environmental law. Attention is then given to a number of prominent sectoral areas including heritage, biodiversity, marine environment, climate change, and the relationship between trade and the environment. A study is then undertaken of the influence of international environmental law in a number of states and subregions within the Asia Pacific. The book concludes by assessing the interaction between international and regional environmental law, and considers the future prospects for international environmental law in the Asia Pacific.

Table of Contents:

Preface. 1. The Nature of International Environmental Law. 2. International Organizations and International Environmental Law. 3. Regional Environmental Issues and Responses. 4. Conservation of Natural and Cultural Heritage. 5. Protection of Biological Diversity. 6. Protection of the Marine Environment. 7. Climate Change. 8. Trade-Related Environment Issues. 9. Sabregional and State Responses. 10. Mekong Region. 11. China. 12. The ASEAN Region. 13. Southwest Pacific. 14. Australia and New Zealand. 15. Interaction between Global and Regional International Environmental Law. 16. Future of International and Regional Environmental Law in the Asia Pacific. Index.