Abed, Sheila --- "Introduction" [2011] ELECD 304; in Paddock, Lee; Qun, Du; Kotzé, J. Louis; Markell, L. David; Markowitz, J. Kenneth; Zaelke, Durwood (eds), "Compliance and Enforcement in Environmental Law" (Edward Elgar Publishing, 2011)

Book Title: Compliance and Enforcement in Environmental Law

Editor(s): Paddock, Lee; Qun, Du; Kotzé, J. Louis; Markell, L. David; Markowitz, J. Kenneth; Zaelke, Durwood

Publisher: Edward Elgar Publishing

ISBN (hard cover): 9781848448315

Section Title: Introduction

Author(s): Abed, Sheila

Number of pages: 2

Extract:

Introduction
Sheila Abed*

Compliance with international environmental agreements and national
environmental laws is essential to making progress toward sustainable
development and central to the work of the IUCN Commission on Environmental
Law (CEL). It is for this reason that I am particularly pleased to have had the
opportunity to participate in and co-sponsor the 4th IUCN Academy of
Environmental Law Colloquium titled "Toward More Effective Implementation
of Environmental Law: Enforcement and Compliance." The Academy grew out
of the work of the Commission on Environmental Law and now stands as a key
focal point for linking environmental law faculty around the world. Just as
important, the Academy is a vital link between law faculty and environmental
lawyers, allowing academic research to be informed by real world problems and
allowing that research to inform public policy decisions.
This book captures much of the critical thinking on enforcement and
compliance from the Colloquium. In doing so, it helps advance the IUCN
Programme which explicitly seeks to improve the attention of decision makers on
the role of a healthy environment on sustainability. This requires focus on three
key issues: knowledge, empowerment and governance. We must know more to
succeed in our efforts. We must ensure that all people have access to and
influence in the decisions that affect sustainable development; and we must
enhance the rule of law and build the capacities of governments to act in
protecting resources and public health. Knowledge, empowerment and
governance are all critical to well functioning legal ...