Contemporary Issues in Environmental Law

This book presents a variety of articles about contemporary issues in environmental law by eminent university professors of environmental law, international public law, European Union law, and comparative law in Europe and Japan. It is the first book ever in the field of environmental law based on the results of international conferences and research activities supported by the Delegation of the European Union in Japan. Current essential and global topics, such as principles of environmental law, climate change, biodiversity, animal ethics, the nuclear safety regime after Fukushima, environmental impact assessments, the protection of international waters, genetically modified organisms, and the implementation of international instruments and EU rules at national levels, are discussed in light of the Treaty of Lisbon of 2009 and other recent international treaties by comparing the respective approaches taken by the EU, European nations, and Japan. As environmental law is no longer a national issue but, rather, a global one, it is important to understand and analyse various aspects of current environmental issues. This book is a response to such needs and represents the joint work of six Japanese and four European (two German and two Italian) professors, who have succeeded in creating something that is both unique and remarkable.