New seminal environmental works. Nine review articles. - WZB

10 New Seminal Environmental Works
Divergence, convergence, hybridization in the substance and objectives of
environmental policies? I think every reader of this interesting and contro-
versial book will have to make his own judgement. This, however, will not
be easy as the cases presented differ in kind. As such, the volume is pre-
senting differing perspectives on some fundamental questions rather than
providing a definite set of firm conclusions.
There are three chapters on general policy (particularly on the precaution-
ary principle, and risk assessment), four on regulatory trends (particularly
on federalism, negotiations, and liability), four on global issues (particu-
larly on climate change, trade, and sustainable development), and two on
trans-national networks. Although the chapters on general policy and regu-
latory trends differ greatly, and some even contradict each other, those on
global issues and on trans-national networks are more coherent. No doubt,
however, the EU has become a leader, the US a laggard, as regards climate,
biodiversity and water policies – all are fields, where multilateralism, bur-
den sharing, and cooperation are needed, and where environmental protec-
tion has to be seen as part of the protection of the common good.
“It is the fundamental difference in attitudes … that is the most striking
(and worrying) divergence between US and EU policies”, says Paul Harris
(p. 271). “The incorporation of the precautionary principle and the goal of
sustainable development into the EU Treaty in the 1990s implies a deeper
philosophical commitment than any recent administration in the US has
been willing to make”, the editors add (p. 353). And they conclude: “The
EU’s strong support for normative principles, such as the precautionary
principle, common but differentiated responsibility, and sustainable devel-
opment to ensure international equity reflects a worldview quite different