Setting the Scene for the 'New Thinking on Sustainability' Conference
(2015) 13 NZJPIL
Victoria University of Wellington Legal Research Paper No. 5/2016
9 Pages Posted: 23 Dec 2015 Last revised: 2 Feb 2016
Date Written: 2015
Abstract
This is the Opening Address to the "New Thinking on Sustainability" conference held at Victoria University of Wellington in February 2014. In his address Sir Geoffrey Palmer QC traces the history of the sustainability issue. Since the 1970s there has been increased global concern about the long list of environmental problems that our planet is facing. Sir Geoffrey considers the international developments in environmental protection commencing with the Stockholm Declaration of the United Nations Conference on the Human Environment in 1972. Finally, policy approaches to achieving sustainable development are discussed with particular reference to the Resource Management Act 1991. Unfortunately, current policy initiatives undertaken by the New Zealand government are not consistent with sustainable development as the touchstone for environmental law in New Zealand.
Keywords: International Environment Law, Sustainability, Resource Management, Environmental Policy
JEL Classification: K00, K32, K33
Suggested Citation: Suggested Citation