Ludwig Krämer
Encyclopedia
Professor Doctor Ludwig Krämer (1939 - ) is an important legal figure in the development of environmental law
at national, regional and international levels and in particular in the European Community. He is the author of over 150 articles on environmental law, principally concerned with European Community/European Union environmental law. He retired from the European Commission in 2004. He currently teaches European Environmental Law in several universities, is Senior Counsel in ClientEarth and is a member of the Advisory Board of Justice and Environment.
Ludwig Krämer was in the employment of the European Commission
from 1972 - 2004. In 1972, he joined as an official with the Commission in the Competition Directorate-General (D-G). In this role he dealt principally with consumer protection issues.
Ludwig Krämer was to start his important influence over environmental policies and legislation in the EC when he moved into the Directorate-General for the Environment (European Commission)
(D-G Environment) in 1984. Between 1987 and 1994, Ludwig Krämer was head of the Legal Unit. His next position was as head of the Waste Management Unit. Ludwig Krämer was influential in directing European environmental law and policy, given his breadth of knowledge and fluency in approximately 8 official European languages, many of which he was able to draft legislation in.
He retired from this position in August 2004, to pursue an active academic career. At the time of his retirement, a group of friends and colleagues assembled a book of essays in honour of Ludwig Krämer, in recognition of his contributions to the field of environmental protection.
. He also lectures at College of Europe, Bruges in Belgium. He also teaches at a number of other universities, including those located in Copenhagen, Ghent, Pécs, Stockholm, Seville, London and Montreal.
An dedicated and passionate person, Ludwig Krämer holds strong views on the importance of protecting our environment. He is also vocal about the need to check the tendencies of bureaucracy to act territorially about its management of the environment, from keeping environmental information to itself to not effecting implementation of legislative obligations with respect to environmental protection. He considers many soft law
approaches to environmental protection to be ineffective.
In addition, Ludwig Krämer is a dedicated humanitarian who thinks deeply about the human condition and humanity's proclivity for not taking responsibility for this world and its inhabitants, both human and non-human.
"The environment is an interest without a voice"
"The administration thinks the environment is its property. It is not. It is everybody's property."
"Nature dies away in silence ... nature does not have a voice."
Environmental law
Environmental law is a complex and interlocking body of treaties, conventions, statutes, regulations, and common law that operates to regulate the interaction of humanity and the natural environment, toward the purpose of reducing the impacts of human activity...
at national, regional and international levels and in particular in the European Community. He is the author of over 150 articles on environmental law, principally concerned with European Community/European Union environmental law. He retired from the European Commission in 2004. He currently teaches European Environmental Law in several universities, is Senior Counsel in ClientEarth and is a member of the Advisory Board of Justice and Environment.
Education
Ludwig Krämer was educated at the University of Kiel and München, where he studied law and history (1960 - 1964). He was an official trainee in Germany and France (1964 - 1968) and sat for the State examination in law in 1968 in Hamburg, Germany. He holds a PhD in EC consumer law, from the University of Hamburg.Professional career
His career commenced as a research associate for Kiel University in 1968. From 1969 until his retirement from the position in 2004, Dr Krämer was a Judge with Landgericht, Kiel.Ludwig Krämer was in the employment of the European Commission
European Commission
The European Commission is the executive body of the European Union. The body is responsible for proposing legislation, implementing decisions, upholding the Union's treaties and the general day-to-day running of the Union....
from 1972 - 2004. In 1972, he joined as an official with the Commission in the Competition Directorate-General (D-G). In this role he dealt principally with consumer protection issues.
Ludwig Krämer was to start his important influence over environmental policies and legislation in the EC when he moved into the Directorate-General for the Environment (European Commission)
Directorate-General for the Environment (European Commission)
The Directorate-General for the Environment is a Directorate-General of the European Commission, responsible for the European Union policy area of the environment....
(D-G Environment) in 1984. Between 1987 and 1994, Ludwig Krämer was head of the Legal Unit. His next position was as head of the Waste Management Unit. Ludwig Krämer was influential in directing European environmental law and policy, given his breadth of knowledge and fluency in approximately 8 official European languages, many of which he was able to draft legislation in.
Head of Environmental Governance, D-G Environment
In 2001, Ludwig Krämer was made head of the unit on Environmental Governance in D-G Environment. In this capacity, he was an advocate for the environment, championing the need for transparency, accountability and public participation in the field of environmental protection.He retired from this position in August 2004, to pursue an active academic career. At the time of his retirement, a group of friends and colleagues assembled a book of essays in honour of Ludwig Krämer, in recognition of his contributions to the field of environmental protection.
Prolific Author
During the time spent at the Commission, in addition to his daily duties, Ludwig Krämer devoted time to write copiously and to teach in the field of environmental law. He has authored around 20 books and handbooks and approximately 150 articles on EC environmental law. He is recognised as a leading authority in the field, influencing the thinking of many environmental lawyers and law students. His passion for the environment has spurred many young people into working for environmental protection.Academia
As at 2006, Ludwig Krämer is a Professor in European and German environmental law at the University of Bremen. He is a Visiting Professor at University College LondonUniversity College London
University College London is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom and the oldest and largest constituent college of the federal University of London...
. He also lectures at College of Europe, Bruges in Belgium. He also teaches at a number of other universities, including those located in Copenhagen, Ghent, Pécs, Stockholm, Seville, London and Montreal.
An dedicated and passionate person, Ludwig Krämer holds strong views on the importance of protecting our environment. He is also vocal about the need to check the tendencies of bureaucracy to act territorially about its management of the environment, from keeping environmental information to itself to not effecting implementation of legislative obligations with respect to environmental protection. He considers many soft law
Soft law
The term "soft law" refers to quasi-legal instruments which do not have any legally binding force, or whose binding force is somewhat "weaker" than the binding force of traditionallaw, often contrasted with soft law by being referred to as "hard law"...
approaches to environmental protection to be ineffective.
In addition, Ludwig Krämer is a dedicated humanitarian who thinks deeply about the human condition and humanity's proclivity for not taking responsibility for this world and its inhabitants, both human and non-human.
Famous Quotes
Ludwig Krämer is recognised for some oft-repeated quotes:"The environment is an interest without a voice"
"The administration thinks the environment is its property. It is not. It is everybody's property."
"Nature dies away in silence ... nature does not have a voice."
External links
- Aarhus or Co-Ownership of the Environment. A documentary which also features Dr Krämer in an interview when he was Head of Environmental Governance in D-G Environment