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Home > Archives > Vol. 11 No. 2 (2026): Publishing > Research Articles
ESP-3981

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2026-02-12

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Vol. 11 No. 2 (2026): Publishing

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Research Articles

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Copyright (c) 2026 Muzaffer Yassen, Wisam Ahmed Lefta, Khadijah Zuweid Khalif Mukhayt, Ahmed Mohammed Fahmi, Ghufran Waleed

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Muzaffer Yassen, Wisam Ahmed Lefta, Khadijah Zuweid Khalif Mukhayt, Ahmed Mohammed Fahmi, & Ghufran Waleed. (2026). Ethical Challenges in International Environmental Law and Policy. Environment and Social Psychology, 11(2), ESP-3981. https://doi.org/10.59429/esp.v11i2.3981
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Ethical Challenges in International Environmental Law and Policy

Muzaffer Yassen

Al-Turath University, Baghdad 10013, Iraq

Wisam Ahmed Lefta

Al-Mansour University College, Baghdad 10067, Iraq

Khadijah Zuweid Khalif Mukhayt

Al-Mamoon University College, Baghdad 10012, Iraq

Ahmed Mohammed Fahmi

Al-Rafidain University College, Baghdad 10064, Iraq

Ghufran Waleed

Madenat Alelem University College, Baghdad 10006, Iraq


DOI: https://doi.org/10.59429/esp.v11i2.3981


Keywords: international environmental law; ethical governance; compliance; environmental justice; sustainability policy; intergenerational equity; legal enforcement.


Abstract

International environmental law is a key mechanism for promoting sustainability, but ethical conflicts in legal regimes often undermine its effectiveness. This study is focused on how justice, equity, procedural justice and accountability impact factor treaty compliance, resource allocation, enforcement mechanism, and long-term investments for sustainability. Using a mixture of quantitative analysis and a qualitative discussion of case studies, the results show that treaties with strong ethical commitments have much higher compliance rates, much more equitable access to financial and technical resources, and much better enforcement mechanisms. The study also identifies inequalities in resource allocation; whereby high-income countries receive a disproportionate amount of environmental support relative to low-income countries. Moreover, the authorization of agreements and bills promote intergenerational fairness move resources away from long-term sustainability efforts, which are overruled by short-term political and economic agendas. The findings highlight the need for ethical considerations to be included in treaty modalities to ensure legal compliance, equitability, and universality. Sustainability-related inquiries addressing moral and ethical considerations can help to foster environmental governance in a globalizing world. However, resolving these issues will need more standardized legal entities, better monitoring of compliance and interdisciplinary policy evaluation approaches. The article involved rethinking ethical governance and it is also a call for future research that deals with quantifying ethical obligations, harmonizing international legal frameworks, developing alternative enforcement mechanisms.


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