Notes from the "Developing effective Environmental legislation in the Pacific Context" workshop, Suva 24-28 November 2008

Abstract

Constitution - The constitution of a country usually mentions the environment in the preamble, but not in the substance of the constitution. E.g. Soloman Islands took into account the importance of the environment and that the resources belonged to the people. Resources are usually under common law and under the power of the state, so this was a paradigm shift. Unfortunately, the new government will not include this proposal that the environment belongs to the people.