It brings together the research of numerous Australian and international academics, lawyers and policy-makers on a diverse range of current environmental law issues. Reflecting the importance of economic growth and development in the Asia-Pacific region, Environmental Outlook No. 2 contains a number of papers which focus specifically on environmental protection initiatives in China, Vietnam and Indonesia and includes a chapter outlining Australia's environmental initiatives in the region. There are three excellent papers on the complex and troubled interface between international trade and environmental protection measures, with a particular focus on the rules of the World Trade Organisation. Environmental law and policy in the European Union are examined, as are the challenges to effective environmental protection posed by recent regulatory changes in the United States. Other topics covered in the collection include hazardous waste and waste management, climate change and the conservation of biological diversity.
Biodiversity is approached from two very different angles in two separate papers.
One writer argues for the potential of an efficient system of property rights, including intellectual property rights, to achieve sustainable development and conservation of biological diversity. Finally, there are three informative chapters on national standardisation of environmental regulation in Australia. Environmental outlook No. 2 will be useful to students, policy-makers and lawyers. The appeal of this collection of essays lies in the comprehensive coverage of current issues in international and domestic environmental law. As well as presenting their research well, most of the contributors challenge and stimulate the reader by identifying emerging issues and anticipating future directions.