The information contained in this fact sheet is current as at 1 January 2005.

Topic 1 - Introduction to Environmental Law

1.3 Functions of Environmental Law

The key functions of modern environmental law may be described as follows:

to establish regulatory structures for environmental management, including regulatory agencies and specialist courts and tribunals;
to empower regulators to manage environmental impacts using plans, policies, standards, licences and incentives;
to require persons proposing environmentally significant activities to seek permission from regulators;
to enable members of the public to take part in strategic planning and project evaluation;
to require activities of environmental significance to be assessed before permission can be granted;
to provide administrative, civil and criminal sanctions for non-compliance with the law;
to allow the legality of decisions of regulators to be challenged by members of the public; and
to allow the merits of certain decisions of regulators to be challenged by members of the public.