Publication Type

Journal Article

Version

publishedVersion

Publication Date

6-2021

Abstract

The extinction of species and ecological systems is occurring more quickly than any other time in human history. Our social and cultural institutions and the concepts and framings that underpin them are key contributors to modern extinctions. In this paper we ask how engaging explicitly with extinction enables a critical and hopeful rethinking of environmental law. We explore the potential of this question by summarising and categorising the literature that discusses how extinction provides a useful frame and moral compass for interrogating environmental law rules, systems and ambitions. Through an evaluation of biodiversityrelated multilateral environmental agreements we illustrate the potential of our approach. We demonstrate that if law is to effectively address mass extinction then we need to also interrogate the values and worldviews perpetuated by existing and potential future legal instruments. Drawing on the papers from this special issue we argue that there is much scope for scholarship to develop critical and hopeful approaches for environmental law to address the ecological, social and ethical challenges of extinction.

Keywords

Extinction, Human-nature relationship, Biodiversity, Hope, Critical environmental law

Discipline

Environmental Law

Publication

Griffith Law Review

Volume

29

Issue

4

First Page

493

Last Page

512

ISSN

1038-3441

Identifier

10.1080/10383441.2020.194056

Publisher

Socio-Legal Research Centre

Download

Share

COinS