The United Nations Conference on Human Environment, held in Stockholm, Sweden, on 5-16 June 1972, has been generally considered as the starting point for the rapid development of international environmental law as one of the newest branches of public international law. The most important result of the Conference was the Stockholm Declaration containing a set of principles that have considerably influenced the law relating to international protection of the environment.

To commemorate the 30th anniversary of the adoption of the Stockholm Declaration, the Center for Oceans Law and Policy at the University of Virginia School of Law, and the Department of Law at Stockholm University, are co-hosting a conference entitled “Stockholm Declaration and Law of the Marine Environment” to be held in Stockholm, Sweden between 22 and 25 of May 2002. The Conference will focus on the impact of the Stockholm Declaration and related developments on marine environmental law since 1972.