The anniversary book is a tribute to Professor Janina Ciechanowicz-McLean’s scholarly achievements and her contribution to the development of environmental law doctrine. The articles collected in this volume demonstrate a multidimensional approach to environmental issues—from both national and international legal perspectives—with an emphasis on the humanistic and systemic dimensions of environmental protection. The book’s core message is the Professor’s repeated thesis that environmental protection is not an end in itself, but rather serves the overarching value of human well-being—human life, health, spiritual, and material well-being. The authors reflect on the pursuit of coherent legislative solutions that could effectively counteract the fragmentation and inconsistency of environmental law. The social function and institutional evolution of environmental law are also important. This monograph contains texts by renowned environmental law scholars who address important and timely issues, including the call for the establishment of an organic law on environmental protection—a solution that would require constitutional amendments but could significantly contribute to greater transparency and stability of public regulations in the future. The book’s reflections also encompass institutional aspects of environmental protection. The global context of environmental protection also resonates strongly, especially in light of the threats posed by climate change, which—as the 2022 UN report emphasizes—constitutes one of the most serious and far-reaching threats to natural and social systems. The climate crisis compels not only a new legislative approach but also a profound reflection on the relations between states and the international community.
