Abstract:

Taking into consideration the real challenge posed by climate change and its economic, social, political, and demographic consequences that concern the entire international community, we have decided to approach this topic in the present paper, in an attempt to identify, first and foremost, the legal as well as the economic and social dimensions that can be shaped in relation to the phenomenon under analysis. We have started our approach from the idea that air quality directly affects the cross-border pollution on large distances, as well as climate change and the Earth’s ozone layer, which has inspired us to focus on identifying the legal framework that applies at a European and international level. At the same time, we will try to analyze the role played by national authorities in applying the European and international instruments in the matter. In essence, the problem raised by the need to establish a regulatory framework for the legal protection of air and climate is not new, but in the current economic and social context, its pressing nature cannot be refuted. The main argument is that we are in the presence of a vital component of the human environment, which is nevertheless insufficiently protected from negative influences. Climate unbalance and changes, together with the loss of biodiversity or generalised pollution, are global environmental problems that need to be seen and treated as appropriate, including from a legal standpoint. In an effort towards an adequate legal reaction to integrate actions that would slow down and adapt to the effects of climate change, an extended process of regulation and institutionalisation of environmental and climate issues started in the last decade of the previous century, a process that is mainly developed at an international level but which has it effects at a regional and national level as well.