Environmental Laws and Sustainability An Introduction.docVIP

Sustainability 2011, 3, 531-540; doi:10.3390/su3030531 OPEN ACCESS sustainability ISSN 2071-1050 /journal/sustainability Editorial Environmental Laws and Sustainability: An Introduction John C. Dernbach 1,* and Joel A. Mintz 2 1 Widener University Law School, 3800 Vartan Way, Harrisburg, PA 17106, USA 2 Nova Southeastern University, Shepard Broad Law Center, 3305 College Avenue, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33314, USA; E-Mail: mintzj@ * Author to whom correspondence should be addressed; E-Mail: jcdernbach@; Tel.: +1-717-541-1933; Fax: +1-717-541-3966. Received: 15 March 2011 / Accepted: 23 March 2011 / Published: 23 March 2011 Abstract: In this introduction to the special issue of Sustainability on environmental laws and sustainability, we attempt to synthesize key lessons from the issue?s ten substantive articles. These lessons involve the use of law to achieve integrated decision-making, the use of pre-existing laws to foster sustainability, the centrality of sub-national governments in achieving sustainability, the background law of unsustainable development, the growing importance of climate change, the need to use law to protect and restore ecological integrity, the importance of judicial review and nongovernmental organizations, the need to translate sustainability into specific legal principles, the challenge of creating an appropriate national legal structure for sustainability, the importance of sustainability assessment tools and institutions before and after laws are adopted, and the importance of “soft” law. Keywords: environmental law; sustainability; sustainable development; integrated decision-making; law for sustainability; governance; law; legal institution 1. Introduction Sustainable development provides a framework for humans to live and prosper in harmony with nature rather than living, as we have done for centuries, at nature?s expense. Nonetheless, sustainability does not now have an adequate or