A reappraisal of sovereignty in the light of global environmental concerns

Abstract

The concept of the sovereignty of the nation state is at the very core of our understanding of public international law. Nevertheless, the concept is under constant pressure to adapt to the changing global situation. This is particularly true when sovereignty is examined in the light of environmental concerns. Is the traditional paradigm still relevant in an age when so many transboundary and global environmental issues confront the international legal order? This paper suggests that whilst sovereignty remains a central pillar of international law, it is one that increasingly must be responsive to the needs and concerns of an interdependent international community. It must not be treated as a static, immovable fact, but rather as a flexible tool through which states can more effectively act in an increasingly interdependent global society.