International law requires multilateral cooperation to tackle climate change

What is it about?

Several environmental protection laws and agreements at the national and international level have been working to prevent the worst impacts of climate change. But, discrepancies in these laws, as well as the lack of a coherent approach, have already led to setbacks. In this paper, the authors discuss the fragmented state of international environmental law, as well as other conflicts that arise between member states due to policy differences. Multiple institutions and agreements between member states on the international stage have led to contradictory policies. This paper highlights such discrepancies between international law in the fields of climate change, trade, and human rights. Moreover, it talks about the actions that can be taken by countries and institutions to provide a more comprehensive approach to climate change mitigation and prevention.

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Photo by Markus Spiske on Unsplash

Photo by Markus Spiske on Unsplash

Why is it important?

Dealing with the global problem of climate change requires international consensus. The current fragmentation of international laws can hamper global efforts towards mitigating climate change. The lack of coherent and comprehensive international laws can lead to member states taking single-handed or unilateral decisions. These decisions might not benefit the globe in the long term. This paper highlights these issues, calling for a multilateral approach to tackle climate change. KEY TAKEAWAY: Mitigating the threat of climate change efficiently requires a coherent and coordinated approach between various countries on an international level. Consolidating the various international laws will resolve inconsistencies and will help institutions and countries enact effective policies to combat climate change.