World Declaration on the Environmental Rule of Law

The International Union for Conservation of Nature World Declaration on the Environmental Rule of Law (World Declaration) was prepared by a group of experts from the World Commission on Environmental Law at the International Union for Conservation of Nature World Environmental Law Congress. The group drafted the World Declaration intending to establish environmental rule of law as the legal foundation for environmental justice. The document declares that strengthening the rule of law is critical to protecting environmental, social and cultural values and to achieving ecologically sustainable development.

Moreover, without the environmental rule of law and the enforcement of legal rights and obligations, environmental governance, conservation, and protection may be arbitrary, subjective and unpredictable. The Declaration articulates general and emerging substantive principles for promoting environmental justice through the environmental rule of law. The Declaration further underscores the essential role of judges and courts in strengthening the environmental rule of law. Moreover, the World Declaration links the environment to economic development. It recognizes the close relationship between human rights and environmental conservation and protection, and the significance of ecological integrity toward achieving human well-being and tackling poverty.