Presenting essential elements of international environmental law, Kiss, former president of the European Council on Environmental Law, and Shelton (law, The George Washington University Law School) provide a general overview of why and how the international system defines environmental obligations and monitors compliance with them. They discuss the relationship between international obligations and national and local law, with particular reference to federal systems, and examine the extent to which environmental protection should be and is taken into account in other regulatory frameworks, such as trade law, human rights, and refugee policy. The basic knowledge provided in the book will allow readers to undertake further research on topics of environmental regulation at the international level and to understand the implications of international environmental law for national law and policy. A glossary, a list of Web sites, and a list of treaties and other texts mentioned in the book are included. Shelton Martinus Nijhoff is an imprint of Brill. Annotation ©2007 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)