Author: Peggy McGuinness

by Peggy McGuinness

Opinio Juris is pleased to be hosting this week a discussion of Professor Dan Bodansky’s new book, “The Art and Craft of International Environmental Law” (Harvard Univ. Press, 2010).  Dan is well known to our readers as a frequent guest blogger and commentator on international environmental law, a field in which he is one of the world’s leading scholars.  The book reflects Dan’s deep knowledge as a scholar of international law and jurisprudence and global environmental challenges.  But it also reflects Dan’s experience as a senior policy maker in international environmental issues.  As a result of Dan’s unique background, the book succeeds where many other scholarly treatises fail: It presents the theory, doctrine and politics of international law in a way that is lucid and accessible to non-expert lawyers and non-lawyers alike.  The clarity and cogency of his explanations and arguments for how international environmental law works (and doesn’t work), should convince all but the most hardened skeptics of international law about when, how, and why international legal tools should be deployed to address environmental problems.

Following Dan’s initial post outlining the main themes and claims of the book, we will hear from an impressive group of scholars who will provide critiques and responses to the book.  Our commentators for the week are Professors Peter Haas, Scott Barrett, David Freestone and Kal Raustiala.

Peter Haas is a professor in the Department of Political Science at the University of Massachusetts Amherst.  His work focuses on the effectiveness of international environmental regimes and global governance. He is the co-author of “Global Environmental Governance” (with James Gustave Speth) and has frequently served as a consultant on international environmental issues for the U.S. government and the UN.

Scott Barrett is the Lenfest Professor of Natural Resource Economics at Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs and the Earth Institute.  His work focuses on the role of international agreement in environmental policy, and he is the author of the 2007 book “Why Cooperate? The Incentive to Supply Global Public Goods,” and the 2003 book “Environment and Statecraft: The Strategy of Environmental Treaty-Making.”

David Freestone is the Lobingier Visiting Professor of Comparative Law and Jurisprudence and the George Washington Law School.  Professor Freestone is retired from the World Bank where he served as senior adviser and deputy general counsel and for eight years as chief counsel and head of the Environment and International Law Group. Prior to his service at the World Bank, Professor Freestone taught international law the University of Hull. He is the author and editor of several leading works in international environmental and resource law, and recently co-edited “Legal Aspects of Carbon Trading:  Kyoto, Bali and Beyond.”

Kal Raustiala holds a joint appointment as a Professor at the UCLA School of Law and the UCLA International Institute.  He is also the Director of the UCLA Ronald Burkle Center for International Relations.   He has written widely on international cooperation and regime building, and his latest book, “Does the Constitution Follow the Flag?” was the subject of an Opinio Juris book discussion last summer.

We welcome Dan and this truly terrific group of scholars to Opinio Juris and look forward to an enlightening and stimulating conversation about Dan’s book.

by Peggy McGuinness

The American Branch of the International Law Association has posted a call for panels for the 2010 International Law Weekend, which will take place in New York October 21-23. This year’s theme is “International Law and Institutions: Advancing Justice, Security and Prosperity.” ILW is always a fun event — with lots of student, NGO, IO and private practitioner participation.  Full call for proposals after the jump.

On October 21-23, 2010, the American Branch of the International Law Association and the International Law Students Association will present the annual International Law Weekend (”ILW”) in New York, in conjunction with the 89th annual meeting of the American Branch. ILW 2010 will bring together hundreds of practitioners, professors, members of the governmental and non-governmental sectors and students. It will feature numerous panels, distinguished speakers, receptions, and the Branch’s annual meeting. ILW 2010 will take place at the Association of the Bar of the City of New York on October 21, 2010, and at Fordham University School of Law on October 22 and 23. The overall theme of ILW 2010 is “International Law and Institutions: Advancing Justice, Security and Prosperity.”

The global strategic and financial turmoil of the last several years has created unprecedented challenges and opportunities for international law and institutions. ILW 2010 will address the role of international law and institutions in reducing conflict, promoting security, fostering human rights, protecting the environment, facilitating trade and investment, and resolving public and private international disputes. Panels will examine subjects such as the extent to which treaties currently under negotiation or consideration would further these objectives, and the operation and effect of international organizations, international courts, and arbitral institutions on the global legal order.

The Co-Chairs of ILW 20010 are Professor Elizabeth Burleson of the University of South Dakota Law School, [email protected], Hanna Dreifeldt Lainé of the United Nations Office of Legal Affairs, [email protected], Vincent J. Vitkowsky, Partner, Edwards Angell Palmer & Dodge LLP, [email protected], and Jill Schmieder Hereau, Program Coordinator at the International Law Students Association, [email protected].

The Co-Chairs invite proposals for panels for ILW 2010. Please submit proposals by email to each of the Co-Chairs no later than Friday, April 9, 2010. The proposals should be structured for 90-minute panels, and should include a formal title, a brief description of the subjects to be covered (no more than 75 words), and the names, titles, and affiliations of the panel chair and three or four likely speakers. The proposals should also describe the format envisaged (point-counterpoint, roundtable, or other). One of the objectives of ILW 2010 is to promote a dialogue among scholars and practitioners from across the legal spectrum, so whenever possible, panels should include presentations of divergent views.