With more than 200 legal acts currently in force at EU level, environment represents one of the densest and furthest-reaching areas of EU law. EU environmental law covers a wide range of topics: both sectoral, such as for example waste management, nature protection or water management; and horizontal, such as climate change and environmental impact assessment. Environmental legislation also confers rights to individuals or NGOs, such as access to justice, access to information, and public participation in environmental matters. All the above-mentioned topics greatly influence the everyday work of a wide range of public authorities and administrations, private companies whether carrying out industrial activities or providing services, and NGOs who aim at protecting the environment; this seminar thus offers a comprehensive overview of the main areas of environmental protection at EU level, including the obligations it imposes on Member States and sometimes on the private sector, as well as rights it creates for individuals and NGOs.