«One cannot deny the value of the presented monograph as a comprehensive and extremely interesting study of the issues of the three principles that are key to environmental law.»

Ilona Przybojewska, The Opole Studies in Administration and Law

«De Sadeleer reveals new nuances not previously presented in other monographs dealing with environmental law and offers a new approach to understanding it. In particular, the considerable space dedicated to the precautionary principle provides essential reading for anyone wishing to investigate its implementation. De Sadeleer's display of knowledge and command of the subject matter is impressive.»

José Manuel Escudero Pérez, Actualidad Jurídica Ambiental

«This book has a rare level of conceptual insight and tremendous analytical rigour. The author demonstrates a full command of both legislation and case law, whilst at the same time proposing an original reading and understanding of how environmental principles operate in the current labyrinthine and ever-changing panorama of environmental regulation»

A.M. Morenon Molina, Revista Aranzadi de Derecho Ambiental

«One of a kind, de Sadeleer's book, not only contributes to high quality environmental law scholarship, it enhances the quality of legal research in the still growing field of environmental law, and is capable of providing environmental law researchers, legal professionals, the judiciary, law students and other interested in environmental law, with a solid understanding of the three environmental principles: the polluter-pays, the prevention, and the precaution principles, and how they have developed from political slogans to legal rules, and continue to evolve against the environmental challenges of the present times.»

Aðalheiður Jóhannsdóttir, Nordic Environmental Law Journal

«All in all, the book of Nicolas de Sadeleer is a very useful and exhaustive source of information for any environmental lawyer. The environmental principles are interpreted in such a way to make them an important basis to reinforce environmental law. The book makes the reader think in different ways and is an invitation to leave traditional legal pathways.»

Gerhard Roller, Environmental Law Network International Review

«De Sadeleer's book is not only a must-have reference for anyone wishing to deal with the subject matter, but also has the merit of giving food for thought on a multitude of topics. The author carves out a system of principles covering the whole discipline of environmental law, which was hitherto missing. After reviewing the various principles in the literature and in the case law, De Sadeleer delves in particular into three of them the polluter-pays, prevention, and precaution, which, in his view, overcome the fragmentation of environmental law.»

Stefano Nespor, Rivista giuridica dell'Ambiente

«In particular, N. de Sadeleer analyses how the precautionary principle is being implemented and influencing more and more legislation as well as case law. The chapter on this principle is a real stimulus to further thinking. This in-depth theoretical analysis is complemented by concrete illustrations. Thus, the role of science in the context of the application of the precautionary principle is intensively discussed.»

Gerhard Roller, Tijdschrift voor Omgevingsrecht en Omgevingsbeleid (translated to English from the o

«The importance of this book on Environmental Principles in the context of the risk society and the global ecological crisis cannot be overstated. Anyone who wants to grapple with all the numerous legal questions raised in this book, its argumentative richness, the numerous illustrations, the accurateness of the analyses, will have to read and re-read it. I can, however, guarantee that the reading will certainly be pleasant and fruitful. The reader will be left with the feeling that he has enjoyed an extraordinary book on Environmental Law, but also, more generally, that he has read a remarkable example of the role played by legal science in the new post-modern era.»

António Cortês, Católica Law Review (translated into English from the original)

«It is impossible to summarise in a few lines the rich and powerful analytical content of a book that opens up new venues and perspectives in the study of legal-environmental issues. Professor de Sadeleer, in his generous and masterful effort to systematise the advances and setbacks of environmental protection through the law, offers us a vast repository of knowledge that is essential reading.»

Santiago Manuel Alvarez Carreño, Revista Catalana de Dret Ambiental (translated into English from th

«Reviews from previous edition»

«This book is a formidable feat of legal scholarship ... likely to remain a milestone for years to come and one which no-one working in this field can ignore.»

Chris Miller, Environmental Law Review

«De Sadeleer's Environmental Principles is a tour de force, a showpiece of legal as well as contextual analysis, a constant proof of the author's sharp intellect, a reference book.»

Geert van Calster, European Environmental Law Review

«... impressively-researched ... This book can be warmly recommended to anyone with an interest in the theory, development and practical working of environmental law ... it is well written and logically structured, with clear section headings as useful signposts to the direction of argument.»

Stephen Tromans, Journal of Environmental Law

«The book represents a step forward in the theory of the nature and functions of the environmental principles communicating rather complex concepts. The analyses are original, important and largerly convincing and deserve attention. The book can strongly be recommended to environmental academics.»

Peter Pagh, Nordic Journal of International Law