Earth Trusteeship and the Sovereign State: Transforming International Environmental Law

Author

Klaus Bosselmann

ISBN: 9781032674063

Published: Paperback edition, July 20, 2026 (hardback first published 2025)

Format: Paperback

Language: English

Publisher: Routledge

Description

Earth Trusteeship and the Sovereign State makes the case for the legal role and responsibility of sovereign states in the trusteeship of the Earth. In 1972, the first photo of the Earth – Blue Marble – sparked the imagination and need to care for our planet, and the world's first UN conference on the environment adopted the Stockholm Declaration proclaiming that Earth's natural resources and ecosystems must be safeguarded for present and future generations. Today, ecological systems deteriorate at accelerating speeds. This book closes the gap between the promises of international environmental agreements and the concept of state sovereignty, arguing that sovereignty includes fiduciary duties for matters of global concern such as human rights and ecological sustainability. Autonomy and freedom of citizens can only prosper if states protect human rights and ecological sustainability both inside and outside national boundaries — the logic behind global governance and, at its core, the ancient idea of trusteeship: acting on behalf of those who cannot act for themselves.

Key Features

Reframes state sovereignty as carrying fiduciary trusteeship duties toward the Earth · Bridges Earth system science with international environmental jurisprudence · Builds a structured argument across three parts: transforming international environmental law, examining state sovereignty, and incorporating Earth trusteeship · Written by a leading scholar in environmental law with decades of work on sustainability and governance

Coverage

Part I – Transforming International Environmental Law: direction-setting, the Earth system approach, complexity, and ecological integrity. Part II – Examining State Sovereignty: the concept of state sovereignty, sovereignty and international environmental law, and the duty to protect. Part III – Incorporating Earth Trusteeship: sovereignty and trusteeship, and the state as Earth trustee.

About the Authors

Klaus Bosselmann is Professor of Law at the University of Auckland, New Zealand, and a leading international scholar in environmental law, sustainability governance, and Earth trusteeship.

Table of Contents

Introduction
Part I – Transforming International Environmental Law
1. In Search for Direction
2. The Earth System Approach
3. Dealing with Complexities
4. Ecological Integrity
Part II – Examining State Sovereignty
5. The Concept of State Sovereignty
6. Sovereignty and International Environmental Law
7. The Duty to Protect
Part III – Incorporating Earth Trusteeship
8. Sovereignty and Trusteeship
9. The State as Earth Trustee
Conclusion

Why buy this book?

A timely, rigorously argued contribution to environmental law and global governance from a leading scholar in the field. A strong addition for law and environmental studies libraries, research centres on sustainability governance, and collections following the evolution of state sovereignty doctrine.

Keywords

Earth trusteeship, international environmental law, state sovereignty, global governance, ecological integrity, sustainability law, environmental jurisprudence

Target Audience

Academics, policy practitioners, environmental law scholars, global governance researchers

Genre

Environmental Law

Q&A

Q: What is the central argument of "Earth Trusteeship and the Sovereign State"?
A: That state sovereignty carries fiduciary trusteeship obligations toward the Earth's ecological systems and toward humanity at large, not just toward a state's own citizens.

Q: How does the book connect to international environmental law?
A: It closes the gap between the promises of international environmental agreements and the traditional concept of state sovereignty, proposing Earth trusteeship as the missing link.

Q: Who is Klaus Bosselmann?
A: He is Professor of Law at the University of Auckland, New Zealand, and a leading scholar in environmental law and sustainability governance.

Q: Who should read this book?
A: Scholars and students of environmental law, international law, and environmental science, as well as policymakers interested in global governance and ecological sustainability.

Q: Where can I buy Earth Trusteeship and the Sovereign State: Transforming International Environmental Law?
A: You can purchase it directly from CLNZ Books, with worldwide delivery and institutional invoicing available.

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