Multiple sources must be checked when researching international environmental law. In addition to international agreements (treaties, conventions, etc.), the researcher should consider the relevance of national environmental laws, regulations and policy statements. Reports and documents issued by multinational and non-governmental organizations also play an important role in shaping and defining international environmental law. These myriad resources can be difficult to identify, much less to obtain in full text.
While the major sources of international environmental law are treaties and international agreements, an additional source is customary international law. Customary international law is often evidenced by national legislation, government statements, restatements of the law, and the interpretations of international tribunals such as the International Court of Justice and other arbitral bodies.
On the UHLawSchool toolbar, click open the menu for Environmental Law, Research Guides. A starting place for researching international environmental law would be the American Society of International Law (ASIL) Guide on International Environmental Law. You will also find links to resources on the Electronic Information System for International Law (EISIL) website.
In addition, the Law Library subscribes to numerous online resources that report on environmental law including three BNA products:
