Call for Submissions: Yearbook of International Environmental Law

The Yearbook of International Environmental Law has issued a call for submissions for its forthcoming volume. Here's the call:

Yearbook of International Environmental Law vol. 25 (2014)

Our call for papers covers topics that were on the agenda during 2014. We request articles of 10,000-15,000 words including footnotes to be submitted to Stacy Belden at the latest by March 15, 2015. Instructions to authors can be found here. In light of recent developments and the topics covered in past volumes of the YIEL, we have chosen the following topics:

The Anthropocene as a challenge to international environmental law: Is international environmental law sufficiently robust to face the challenges posed by the potential end of the Holocene and the emergence of the Anthropocene? We may also question whether our approach to international environmental law-making has been too anthropocentric. It can be argued that, as compared to the immediate post-1972 thrust on conservation, the process has drifted to hard-core human-centric interests and human-induced changes in the global environment. Against this background, it may be necessary to reconsider some of the key approaches and principles of international environmental law. For example: What is the status of the principle of sustainable development and what will mainstreaming the principle through the High-Level Forum on Sustainable Development and the Sustainable Development Goals do to the principle? Other candidates for analyses include: Common but differentiated responsibilities, the polluter pays principle, the precautionary principle, and common heritage of mankind.

Environment and security: The consequences of moving into the Anthropocene are also closely linked to security threats. Climate instability, scarcity of natural resources, and environmental degradation are among key factors that may lead to threats against international security. We invite contributions that address environment and security through the prism of international law.

Marine protected area – ways forward: Moving into the Anthropocene may have important implications for marine resources. We will be looking to the sea for ways in which to satisfy basic human needs. The parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity have set the ambitious target of establishing MPAs for 10 % of the sea and continental shelf areas by 2020. This raises important issues regarding the relationship between international environmental law and other areas of international law. What kinds of economic activities will be restricted in MPAs and how can MPAs be coordinated with rights and duties of states under other parts of international law? Do Particular Sensitive Sea Areas and Special Areas established by the IMO qualify as MPAs? How can such areas be integrated with initiatives to establish MPAs? Can high sea MPAs regulate activities of non-contracting parties? What is the regulatory status of the areas that are part of the OSPAR Network of MPAs?

We encourage contributions from developing country authors that address perspectives from the Global South. In addition to the above topics, we welcome articles on any international environmental law topics of general interest.