International Environmental Law and Climate Change Mitigation Efforts
Article Sidebar
-
Climate Change, Global Cooperation, Legal Frameworks
Abstract
Background: Climate change is one of the most pressing global challenges, with significant consequences for ecosystems, economies, and human societies. International environmental law plays a critical role in shaping global efforts to mitigate climate change by establishing legal frameworks for cooperation and action. However, the effectiveness of international environmental law in addressing climate change remains a subject of debate, particularly concerning the implementation of mitigation strategies at the national and global levels.
Objective: This study aims to analyze the role of international environmental law in climate change mitigation efforts, with a focus on the key legal instruments and agreements that shape global climate governance. The research seeks to evaluate the effectiveness of these legal frameworks in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and promoting sustainable environmental practices.
Method: A qualitative research design was employed, using case studies, legal analysis, and interviews with environmental law experts, policymakers, and practitioners. The study examined major international agreements such as the Paris Agreement and the Kyoto Protocol to assess their impact on climate change mitigation efforts.
Results: The findings indicate that while international environmental law has contributed to raising awareness and setting targets for climate change mitigation, the implementation of these efforts remains uneven, with many countries struggling to meet their commitments due to domestic challenges.
Conclusion: The study concludes that international environmental law has been instrumental in global climate change efforts, but enhanced implementation mechanisms and greater international cooperation are necessary to achieve meaningful progress.
Full text article
References
Agueitos Soriano, S. (2025). COP29 AND THE ABSENCE OF THE LOCAL CLIMATE ACTION SUMMIT. A SETBACK FOR THE PROGRESS OF MULTILEVEL ACTION BY MUNICIPALITIES AND REGIONS. Actualidad Juridica Ambiental, 2025(153), 83–108. Scopus. https://doi.org/10.56398/ajacieda.00400
Atika Sari, D. A., Triatmodjo, M., & Purwanto, H. (2025). Juridical construction of socio-ecological security: Indonesia’s vulnerability to climate change. Dalam Komariah null, Hiramatsu K., Uddin N., & Ariyanto D.P. (Ed.), BIO. Web. Conf. (Vol. 155). EDP Sciences; Scopus. https://doi.org/10.1051/bioconf/202515506015
Bennett, N. J., Relano, V., Roumbedakis, K., Blythe, J., Andrachuk, M., Claudet, J., Dawson, N., Gill, D., Lazzari, N., Mahajan, S. L., Muhl, E.-K., Riechers, M., Strand, M., & Villasante, S. (2025). Ocean equity: From assessment to action to improve social equity in ocean governance. Frontiers in Marine Science, 12. Scopus. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2025.1473382
Bradlow, D. D., Lastra, R. M., & Park, S. K. (2025). How Law Can Contribute to a More Holistic Assessment of Debt Sustainability. Development (Basingstoke). Scopus. https://doi.org/10.1057/s41301-025-00419-9
Buitendag, N. (2025). Environmental law and systems theory. Systems Research and Behavioral Science, 42(2), 297–307. Scopus. https://doi.org/10.1002/sres.3075
Calzolari, F., & Phantanaboon, W. (2025). UNCHARTED VOYAGES: TUVALUANS’ NARRATIVES AND EXPERIENCES OF STATEHOOD AND SURVIVAL DURING CLIMATE CHANGE. International Journal of Asia-Pacific Studies, 21(1), 151–177. Scopus. https://doi.org/10.21315/ijaps2025.21.1.6
Cirkovic (?irkovi?), E., & Wood, D. R. (2025). “Integrating planetary boundaries into sustainable space exploration: An earth-outer space system design framework.” Acta Astronautica, 228, 1088–1098. Scopus. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.actaastro.2024.12.037
Hameed, M. M., & Khalaf, S. M. (2025). Climate Changes and Societal Stability in Iraq: Proposed Measures. Journal of Ecohumanism, 4(1), 4712–4723. Scopus. https://doi.org/10.62754/joe.v4i1.6368
Jalil, S. (2025). Toward an International Grundnorm for Climate Change: Ensuring Sustainability Away from the Traditional Notion of Security. Sustainability (Switzerland), 17(3). Scopus. https://doi.org/10.3390/su17031034
Kim, S. Y., & Kim, H. J. (2025). ‘Common but differentiated’ motivations? Requests for advisory opinions concerning climate change and the law of the sea. International Environmental Agreements: Politics, Law and Economics, 25(1), 61–77. Scopus. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10784-024-09659-5
Konasinghe, K. (2025). South Asian Perspectives on Environmental Courts and Tribunals: Prospects and Challenges. Dalam Sulistiawati L.Y. & Mukherjee S. (Ed.), Brill. Asian. Law. Ser. (Vol. 13, hlm. 249–286). Brill Nijhoff; Scopus. https://doi.org/10.1163/9789004695863_010
Lehmen, A., & Vidigal, G. (2025). Trade and Environment in EU-Mercosur Relations: Negotiating in the Shadow of Unilateralism. European Foreign Affairs Review, 30, 87–114. Scopus. https://doi.org/10.54648/eerr2025004
Luoma, C. (2025). Strengthening the Rights to Culture and Mental Health in the Face of Environmental Violence. Human Rights Quarterly, 47(1), 14–16. Scopus. https://doi.org/10.1353/hrq.2025.a951570
Maboudi, T., & D’Amico, E. (2025). Vulnerability, climate laws, and adaptation in the Middle East and North Africa. Environmental Policy and Governance, 35(1), 145–158. Scopus. https://doi.org/10.1002/eet.2134
Manbeck, L. (2025). Intergenerational Equity as a General Principle of Law. Columbia Journal of Transnational Law, 63(1), 178–221. Scopus.
Maniruzzaman, A. F. M., & Al-Saleem, K. (2025). Renewable energy and energy justice in the Middle East: International human rights, environmental and climate change law and policy perspectives. Journal of World Energy Law and Business, 18(1). Scopus. https://doi.org/10.1093/jwelb/jwae021
Mann, I. (2025). From survival cannibalism to climate politics: Rethinking Regina vs Dudley and Stephens. Glob. Const. Global Constitutionalism. Scopus. https://doi.org/10.1017/S2045381725000097
Mazzoleni, M. (2025). Pope Francis and the environment, act 2. Time for decisive climate action. Environmental Politics, 34(1), 195–203. Scopus. https://doi.org/10.1080/09644016.2024.2416372
Meagher, N. (2025). Dr Frieder Roessler’s Approach to the Constitutional Function of the GATT/WTO. Global Trade and Customs Journal, 20(4), 272–277. Scopus. https://doi.org/10.54648/gtcj2025034
Mehta, C., & Luhach, S. (2025). Displaced by Climate Change: Navigating Legal Framework for ‘Climate Refugees’ in International Environmental Law. India Quarterly. Scopus. https://doi.org/10.1177/09749284241307928
Morales, L., Andreosso-O’Callaghan, B., & Rajmil, D. (2025). Geoeconomics of the Sustainable Development Goals. Dalam Geoeconomics of the Sustainable Development Goals (hlm. 331). Taylor and Francis; Scopus. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781032655857
Mortada, A. R., & Pagani, L. S. (2025). Judicial and non-judicial factors regarding the right to access freshwater in low- and middle-income countries. Euro-Mediterranean Journal for Environmental Integration. Scopus. https://doi.org/10.1007/s41207-025-00784-4
Nawaz, F., Islam, Z. U., Ghori, S. A., Bahadur, A., Ullah, H., Ahmad, M., & Khan, G. U. (2025). Microplastic and nanoplastic pollution: Assessing translocation, impact, and mitigation strategies in marine ecosystems. Water Environment Research, 97(2). Scopus. https://doi.org/10.1002/wer.70032
Niriella, J. (2025). THE INTERSECTION OF CLIMATE CHANGE, GENDER EQUALITY, AND LEGAL FRAMEWORK: Analyzing the Impact of Environmental Policies on Women’s Rights and Opportunities in Sri Lanka’s Fragile Democracy. Dalam The Global Rise of Autocracy: Its Threat to a Sustainable Future (hlm. 199–218). Taylor and Francis; Scopus. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003516583-12
Nowak, M. J. (2025). The Protection of Green Spaces for Climate Change Adaptation: Planning Systems, Policies and Instruments. Dalam The Protection of Green Spaces for Climate Change Adaptation: Plan. Systems, Policies and Instruments (hlm. 194). Taylor and Francis; Scopus. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781032645407
Ntangeki, J. (2025). The Role of International Investment Agreements in Supporting Sustainable Development. Dalam International Investment Law Reform: Contemporary Issues and Solutions (hlm. 54–82). Taylor and Francis; Scopus. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003502760-4
Proedrou, F., & Pournara, M. (2025). Exploring representations of climate change as ecocide: Implications for climate policy. Climate Policy, 25(2), 269–282. Scopus. https://doi.org/10.1080/14693062.2024.2368859
Sapkota, B., & Pariatamby, A. (2025). Pharmaceutical waste management legislations: Where do ASEAN countries stand in harmonization? A review of regulatory documents. Waste Management, 195, 107–128. Scopus. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wasman.2025.01.039
Saravanan, S., Akay, Y. M., Chen, T., & Akay, M. (2025). Impacts of climate change on global health: A review of preparedness, infectious disease, and excessive heat. Health and Technology, 15(1), 7–14. Scopus. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12553-024-00927-7
Steig, F., & Oels, A. (2025). Governing the Climate in the Paris Era: Organized Irresponsibility, Technocratic Climate Futures, and Normalized Disasters. Wiley Interdisciplinary Reviews: Climate Change, 16(2). Scopus. https://doi.org/10.1002/wcc.70001
Thin, S. (2025). Playing Fast and Loose with Article 31(3)(c) VCLT: Lessons on Systemic Integration from the ITLOS Climate Change Opinion. Netherlands International Law Review. Scopus. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40802-025-00274-y
Thomas, H., Ward, M. S., Simmonds, J. S., Taylor, M. F. J., & Maron, M. (2025). Poor compliance and exemptions facilitate ongoing deforestation. Conservation Biology, 39(1). Scopus. https://doi.org/10.1111/cobi.14354
Wang, C., & Wu, M. (2025). On the provisions of the BBNJ Agreement addressing the impacts of climate change. Marine Policy, 171. Scopus. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpol.2024.106429
Authors
Copyright (c) 2025 Kemmala Dewi, Chen Mei, Sun Wei
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
