"Prometheanism" is the belief that humans must dominate and reshape nature as its master. This article examines how this environmental perspective informed the drafting of Australia's Constitution. To begin, Prometheanism became normalised in Britain over centuries. By the time of the Constitution's creation, it was deeply ingrained in colonial Australian law and policy. The framers, therefore, incorporated Promethean ideas into the Constitution without much critical thought. Prometheanism, however, is not a neutral environmental position. It conflicts with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people's traditional views of nature and sits uncomfortably with the sensitivities to nature needed to address climate change and other emerging ecological crises. For these reasons, while my focus is providing a historical account of how Promethean assumptions animate the Constitution, this article concludes with an assessment of how the constitutional entrenchment of these assumptions impact First Nations people and the environment today.
One class of man-made chemicals that is of a particular concern due to their omnipresence in the environment are man-made polymers and their impact. This article seeks to rectify the current analytical lacunae of polymer regulation which remains comparatively unexamined and undertheorised. It will do so by first considering the problem of defining polymers from a regulatory standpoint. It then provides an overview of the environmental and health issues associated with our overreliance on polymers. It then considers the current lack of research and data on polymers and the implications from a regulatory perspective and asks whether there is currently a uniform approach to identification of polymers. The article then critically examines the problem of competing definitions of the term. The article then looks at four jurisdictions: the European Union, the United States, China and Australia, outlining their approaches to the issue and seeking to generate insights into how to improve regulatory approaches. It then details concerns around the potential harmonisation of polymer regulation at the global level. Lastly, the article considers how best to revise and improve the current regulatory frameworks overseeing polymers.
The conservation of biological diversity is dependent upon the availability of reliable, current and accessible data. Remote sensing technologies, which can identify, measure and analyse objects, areas and phenomena in the environment, human activities in the environment and the impacts of human activities on the environment, are increasingly being relied upon to obtain this data. The analysis of the large data sets produced by remote sensing technologies is also now commonly undertaken by artificial intelligence (AI). When paired together, remote sensing and AI generate a powerful means of producing readily accessible data for making informed and useful biodiversity conservation decisions. This article maps the most commonly used remote sensing and AI technologies and how these technologies have been used in biodiversity conservation. The article considers how such technologies are used in evidence in court proceedings and assesses potential issues relating to the reliability and authenticity of remote sensing data.
What do seabirds and the insurance industry have in common? When it comes to plastic, they are the new canaries in the coalmine. Plastic pollution and marine litter pose significant risks to human health and the environment and create increasingly challenging and costly ecological, social and economic risks. With global plastic production increasing exponentially, satisfying our insatiable appetite for plastic while limiting environmental damage has proved incredibly challenging for regulators at both a national and global level. This essay explores the importance of marine biodiversity and highlights the concerning health effects of microplastics for human health, which should act as a wakeup call for decisive action. As scientific consensus builds linking the harmful effects of plastic to human health and legal doctrines develop, corporate liabilities and risks are increasing significantly. To date the regulatory landscape has failed to address the sources and cumulative impacts of plastic pollution. Implementing effective change requires a radical and fundamental transformation of socioeconomic values and how we act, value, and think about the natural world. Appropriate legislative reform requires a holistic approach which reconceptualises the focus of plastic as waste and targets plastics across all stages of its life cycle, from production to disposal.
Greenwashing refers to the use of false, deceptive, or misleading claims by organisation regarding their environmental practices. In light of its increasing prevalence, an Australian Senate inquiry into Greenwashing was launched, due to report in late 2025. This article examines the mechanisms through which governments, regulatory bodies, and courts are responding to greenwashing, drawing on both local and international examples. It explores the consequences of greenwashing for consumers and public trust, and highlights current gaps in regulatory oversight. The article makes the case for legislative reform to establish clearer, enforceable standards for environmental claims and ensure greater accountability.
