englischThe book examines the public participation regulation in the search for a radioactive waste repository. Those legal standards are presented and examined for their novelty. The potential as wells as existing problems are identified. Overall, the work is not limited to a legal assessment, but [...]

englischThe concept of a Bioeconomy – an economy that replaces fossil raw materials with biomass – has been widely promoted as a means to reduce environmental problems. Since the use of biomass itself has also been shown to have a negative environmental impact, a sustainable Bioeconomy is required. [...]

Die Debatte um Schutz und Vorsorge als anlagenrechtliche Genehmigungsschwellen im Bundes-Immissionsschutzgesetz ist fast so alt wie das Gesetz selbst und nach nahezu 40 Jahren im Dissens erstarrt. Die Arbeit führt die Grundpflichtentatbestände auf ihre begrifflichen Ursprünge im Gefahrenabwehrrecht [...]

englischA few years ago, the first environmental courts were established in China. According to recent estimates, approximately 450 environmental courts were instituted after initial difficulties. This development fits in with China’s efforts to improve its environmental legal protection system. [...]

englischThe study illustrates the interaction between the European and International regulations regarding marine environmental law. Therefore it analyses the relationship between the European Union (EU) and the International Maritime Organization (IMO) in the international multilevel system [...]

englischAccording to the German spatial planning law, “Ziele” (specific aims) and “Grundsätze” (general principles) are being used as instruments of binding lower-level plans. Whereas Ziele govern with strict binding force, Grundsätze may be brought into balance with other aspects. In practice, [...]

englischThe accidents of the Erika 1999 and the Prestige 2002 were the turning points in the history of the European Maritime Safety Strategy. The EU established their own directives and regulations, which ever-increasingly exceeded the existing international directives and regulations. Ever since [...]

englischUnconventional gas production in general and fracking in particular generate a great array of uncertainties. By generating knowledge, aspects of legal risk-management may enhance the otherwise challenging decision making process. Potential approaches to these uncertainties could be [...]

Die Befassung mit technikbasierten Risiken ist zu einem zentralen Thema des Rechts geworden. Ging es in einer ersten Phase darum, die Grundlagen staatlicher Risikosteuerung und die rechtlichen Eigenarten des Risikoverwaltungsrechts zu präzisieren, treten in einer zweiten Phase spezifische [...]

englischSoils are of significant importance within the world’s ecosystems. They also are a non-renewable resource. Therefore, sustainable soil protection is necessary.

Sustainability needs to be specified in legal terms. Starting here, the paper gives an overview of soil protection law in Germany [...]