Part II Analytical Approaches, Ch.11 Global South Approaches

This chapter details the global South approaches to international environmental law. It first discusses the colonial origins of international law before tracing the evolution of international environmental law and the North-South divide. The chapter then looks at global South perspectives on international environmental law, including principles and frameworks adopted to address the North-South divide. It considers the potential and limits of these perspectives. Ultimately, the chapter argues that unless and until the neoliberal economic model based on capitalism is discarded in favour of a more ecologically friendly model that accommodates the needs of the global South, especially their vulnerable communities, not only will current North-South tensions be exacerbated, the world will also speedily move towards environmental tipping points from which there is no hope of return.