Anita Boros, Gyula Koi (eds): Sustainability and Law
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3. Legal and administrative theoretical foundations of sustainability and environmental protection (László Vértesy)
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3.2. Positive law
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3.2.3. Other branches of law

3.2.3. Other branches of law

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Sustainable consumption is prominent in consumer law, as it ensures consumers’ rights and information regarding sustainable products and services. Legislation requires that product labelling and marketing be transparent so that consumers can make informed choices in favour of more sustainable products. Campaigns to encourage sustainable consumption and promote green products and services are important parts of consumer law frameworks. Such legislation aims to reduce environmental impacts and encourage responsible purchasing.

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Sustainability issues are also receiving increasing attention in the field of criminal law; the EU adopted a proposal in this regard in 2021.1 Environmental pollution, illegal waste disposal and violations of environmental regulations are among the punishable acts. Strengthening the legal framework against environmental crimes helps to protect natural resources and promotes sustainable development. Holding perpetrators accountable and imposing sanctions is an effective tool for protecting the environment. In addition, criminal law can also address the accountability of companies and organisations in order to promote sustainability. Usually, the following may be listed under crimes against the environment and nature: environmental damage, animal cruelty, poaching, organising a prohibited animal fight, violation of the waste management regulations, misuse of ozone-depleting and radioactive substances; furthermore, for the average people placing a poor-quality product on the market, false certification of conformity, deception of consumers concerning sustainable production or sources.

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Civil law is indirectly related to sustainability; the legislator does not refer to this concept at all, but due to its dispositive nature, contract law may include clauses that promote sustainable practices.2 For example, parties may be obliged to consider environmental aspects when performing a contract or use materials that come from sustainable sources. Green contracts and agreements between the state and companies (G2B) and between companies and companies (B2B), aimed at promoting environmentally friendly practices, can also be interpreted within the framework of civil law. The liability for damage resulting from environmental pollution or other sustainability problems is also important within the civil law framework. Injured parties may be compensated if the damage was caused by another party’s environmental violation. In civil law, the sustainability of public services, such as water, energy and waste management, is also important. Service providers are obliged to consider sustainability principles when providing their services, but they are obliged to do so due to public law and administrative rules.

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In the system of financial law, tax policy and tax legislation can contain a number of sustainability incentives.3 Governments are increasingly introducing environmental taxes, aiming to mitigate harmful environmental impacts and encourage spreading environmentally friendly technologies. These taxes follow the ‘polluter pays’ principle, i.e. companies or individuals that cause significant environmental pollution face higher tax burdens (carbon dioxide tax, contribution). Another tool is the provision of green tax incentives, which encourage companies and individuals to make sustainable investments, use environmentally friendly technologies, and implement energy-saving developments (renewable energy sources, solar or wind energy projects). Recently introduced mandatory corporate sustainability reports also fall under this category. Companies are required to submit reports under the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (abbr. CSRD) from 2024, in line with mandatory EU sustainability reporting standards.4 (However, SMEs will be exempted from the mandatory application of the Directive until 2028, if they can justify it).
 
1

Proposal for a Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on the protection of the environment through criminal law and replacing Directive 2008/99/EC; the directive with amendments still in force as Directive 2008/99/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 19 November 2008 on the protection of the environment through criminal law.

URL: https://commission.europa.eu/document/950a9dd4-84ce-4163-8c0d-8357ccbadf9d_en (accessed: 29 October 2024).

2 Zoll, F., Południak-Gierz, K., Bańczyk, W. (2023). ‘Towards an Environment-friendly Law of Obligations,’ In: Janssen, A., Schulze, R., Lehmann, M. (eds.). The Future of European Private Law. (Baden-Baden:Nomos Verlagsgesellschaft GmbH & Co. KG.) 547. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5771/9783748913078-195 Printed ISBN: 978-3-8487-7292-6 e-Book ISBN: 9783748913078.
3 Vence, X., López, P., Sugey, de J. (2021). ‘Taxation for a circular economy. New instruments, reforms, and architecture changes in the fiscal system.’ Sustainability,13(8) 4581. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/su13084581; Ullah, S. et al. (2023). Dynamics between environmental taxes and ecology sustainability: evidence from top-seven green economy by increase quantile approaches. Sustainable Development, 31(2) 825-839. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/sd.2423
4 Directive (EU) 2022/2464 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 14 December 2022 amending Regulation (EU) No 537/2014, Directive 2004/109/EC, Directive 2006/43/EC and Directive 2013/34/EU, as regards corporate sustainability reporting
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