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It is about time: understanding the textures of time in Australian Environmental Law

journal contribution
posted on 2023-05-19, 18:01 authored by Benjamin RichardsonBenjamin Richardson
Environmental law functions through temporal concepts and time-related mechanisms, as well as influences the timescales of natural systems through its regulation of environmental impacting activities. These textures of time are not only poorly conceptualised in accounts of environmental law, many environmental decisions diverge from the timescales of biological, ecological and climatic systems. The dominant philosophy of sustainable development, which orientates governance to the future, has displaced our attention from other germane temporal dimensions of governance, namely: repairing historic ecological damage (ie past time), improving the law’s responsiveness to mutable circumstances (ie adaptive time), and managing the pace of environmental change (ie tempo). These weaknesses stem from deficiencies in the design of laws and their cultural and economic milieu. With primary reference to the Australian context, this article advances a novel critique of environmental law through the lens of time and suggests ways to align it with nature’s timescales.

History

Publication title

Environmental and planning law journal

Volume

35

Pagination

299-319

ISSN

0813-300X

Department/School

Faculty of Law

Publisher

Thomson Reuters

Place of publication

Australia

Rights statement

Copyright © 2018 Thomson Reuters (Professional) Australia Limited

Repository Status

  • Restricted

Socio-economic Objectives

Environmental policy, legislation and standards not elsewhere classified

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