Editing Environmental law (section)

==History==
{{See also|List of years in the environment}}
Examples of laws designed to preserve the environment for its own sake or for human enjoyment are found throughout history. In the [[common law]], the primary protection was found in the law of [[Nuisance in English law|nuisance]], but this only allowed for private actions for damages or injunctions if there was harm to land. Thus, smells emanating from [[pig sty|pigsties]],<ref>''[[Aldred's Case]]'' (1610) 9 Co Rep 57b; (1610) 77 ER 816</ref> [[strict liability]] against dumping rubbish,<ref>''[[R v Stephens]]'' (1866) LR 1 QB 702</ref> or damage from exploding dams.<ref>''[[Rylands v Fletcher]]'' [1868] UKHL 1</ref> Private enforcement, however, was limited and found to be woefully inadequate to deal with major environmental [[threat]]s, particularly threats to common resources. During the "[[Great Stink]]" of 1858, the dumping of sewerage into the [[River Thames]] began to smell so ghastly in the summer heat that Parliament had to be evacuated. Ironically, the [[Metropolitan Commission of Sewers Act 1848]] had allowed the Metropolitan Commission for Sewers to close [[cesspit]]s around the city in an attempt to "clean up" but this simply led people to pollute the river. In 19 days, [[Parliament]] passed a further Act to build the [[London sewerage system]]. London also suffered from terrible [[air pollution]], and this culminated in the "[[Great Smog]]" of 1952, which in turn triggered its own legislative response: the [[Clean Air Act 1956]]. The basic regulatory structure was to set limits on emissions for households and businesses (particularly burning of [[coal]]) while an inspectorate would enforce compliance.