U.S. Federal Laws
The United States federal government passes environmental legislation and regulatory provisions to protect and regulate the environment. It has also established several federal agencies charged with executing those environmental laws.
U.S. State Laws
Each of the state governments of the United States have passed their own environmental legislation. Like many areas of law, the states vary significantly in their legislation, illustrating a variety of approaches to preserving and protecting the environment.
Local Codes
In each of the United States jurisdictions, local municipalities have also adopted environmental codes to help address pollution, waste management, and other environmental issues. In this section, for example, you can find information about your local recycling programs.
International Agreements
The international community, including the United Nations, has adopted several agreements to address global environmental issues. The first significant act was the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, which was signed by more than 100 countries in 1994. The global initiatives are still a work in progress.