Intoduction to International Environmental Law

INTODUCTION TO INTERNATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL LAW

Environmental Law is defined as a body of state and federal statutes intended to protect the environment, wildlife, land, beauty, prevent pollution, over-cutting of forests, save endangered species, conserve water, develop and follow general plans and prevent damaging practices. Environmental law has a different formula for every country since its different legal system, legislation system, and socio-economic condition. In several developed countries this particular regulation usually was made after a huge environmental accident that draws public attention.

International Environmental law could be defined as “A plethora of legally-binding international agreements now encompass a wide variety of issue-areas, from terrestrial, marine and atmospheric pollution through to wildlife and biodiversity protection.” The important principle adopted in most of international environmental law is The Golden Rule, polluter pays principle, the precautionary principle, the principle of sustainable development, environmental procedural rights, common but differentiated responsibilities, intra-generational and inter-generational equity, the “common concern of humankind,” and the common heritage.

The law could be categorised in two types of law such as Soft and Hard Law. The International Soft Law are the international agreements that binding only the parties that ratified them. On the other hand, Hard Law or known as Customary International law comprises norms and rules that bind all countries in the world. In a simple meaning all the International environmental law are very important for the world to be sustainable and mitigate its degradation.

ENVIROMENTAL LAW IN SINGAPORE

The small city-state of Singapore, with a population of 4 million and a population density of around 6,150 per square per kilometre, is often seen as a model green city. Singapore is one of island country with highly-urbanised city characteristic and presumably no natural resources. Since the economic development comes from the trade and industry, mostly of environmental issues in Singapore are related to industrial and urban pollution, and the protection of nature areas.

Under the leadership of Prime Minister (PM), many environmental improvements had been achieved in Singapore. For instance the spitting and littering, Singapore actually succeeds reducing these with a maximum fine of $2000 for offender. This shows the determination of the government to make Singapore from the Third World Country to the First.

Besides that,