Environmental Law or Flaw?

My name is Destiny Grealy, and the truth is I am fed up. I joined this movement because I am both impassioned and saddened by our world. I am deeply impassioned and feel a connection to the earth we walk on each day. I am saddened by the way we as a race, who have been given so much by the earth, give back so little. My aim is that through this movement, other children, teenagers and adults can realise that what we each do has an effect on not only ourselves but our earth, and make a positive change. I will be writing about environmental law and lifestyle.

My interest in the politics of the environment stem from two dominant sources. Firstly, my step-father Dr Adrian Volders, PhD in Environmental Economics is an environmental consultant, and has been a primary catalyst in aiming to improve Australia’s stance on environmental law. He has been involved in major national projects in The Great Barrier Reef, Paradise Dam, Traveston Dam, the reduction of climate change and increasing numbers of native koalas. Secondly, I am a legal studies student, and have studied environmental law at a senior level.

Environmental law is the conventions each nation abides by which compromises that nations system of legislatures (written law) which regulate the impact of humans on the natural environment and quality of life. The bulk of our environmental laws come from international law. International law is the law between nations. The greatest source of international law is treaties and conventions. The most famous of these conventions are the Rio Convention (1992) and the Paris agreement (2016).

These agreements and conventions are deeply flawed. Each convention provides vague statements about what each signatory country should (at their own discretion) abide by. These vague statements include,

“The creativity, ideals and courage of the youth of the world should be mobilized to forge a global partnership in order to achieve sustainable development and ensure a better future for all.”

(Principle 21 in Rio Agreement, 1992).

Although the principles provided by such agreements are appealing, and give the illusion that care is being taken, they have very little effect on the signatory countries. It is instead small organisations and groups such as FED Up which have to take these principles into our own hands. If our voices will not be listened to by those who are in charge, we will make them heard.

Serious changes to the legislation and conventions surrounding environmental law must be put into place. Furthermore, government funding should be used to help educate and support its citizens in making more informed environmental decisions, which will lead to a long and happy relationship between humans and nature, one which has been abused greatly. It is up to us, the generation which will soon be taking on these authoritarian roles, which must be educated and part of the change.

If you are a citizen who thinks, “what can I do to make a change”. There are many options. We encourage you to contact your local, state and federal government and demand these laws be amended to ensure a better future for generations to come.

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