THE BATTLE OF STATE SOVEREIGNTY AND INTERNATIONAL LAW: WHO WILL REIGN SUPREME?

We live in an increasingly interconnected world. At the forefront of 21st century legal development is the field of international law. A rapidly developing sub-field of international law is environmental law. Issues at the forefront of international environmental law include population, biodiversity, climate change, air, land, sea and water pollution, conservation of marine resources, desertification, and nuclear damage. The issue transcends national boundaries. National environmental action, or indeed inaction, has global ramifications and therefore states can no longer afford to function with such autonomy and independence. Can international law achieve the necessary outcomes to prevent global warming and to protect our natural environment, or will state sovereignty reign supreme?