I. What is international law?

A.By parties governed

1. Public - nation to nation
2. Private - individuals, companies, etc.

B. By method of creation

1. Conventional laws
2. Customary laws (maritime law)

II. New actors

5,668 intergovernmental organizations
36,054 nongovernemental organizations
multinational corporations
ethnic minorities - Mohawk nation
subunits of national governments
local nongovernmental organizations
illicit actors - drug cartels, terrorist organizations (Hezbollah television)
ad hoc transnational organizations

III. Developments in environmental law

A. Development of law by the private sector

International Standards Organization (ISO), <http://www.iso.org/iso/home.htm> - may sidestep trade agreements
ISO 14000
http://www.rainforest-alliance.org alternative to ISO 14000

B. Nonbinding or voluntary guidelines

C. Environmental equity/justice

D. Technological advances

http://sedac.ciesin.org/entri/ Environmental Treaties and Resource Indicators

E. Confusion

Over 900 international legal instruments with one or more important provision concerned with the environment