Atmospheric Air as an Object of Legal Protection

The purpose of the research. This article studies the classification of atmospheric air as an object of legal protection. The main criteria for identifying objects of legal protection in legal science as a whole are studied, and the requirements imposed on certain institutions for the purpose of defining them as objects of legal protection are analyzed. The author also studies the main regulatory legal acts of the Russian Federation in this area and substantiates his/her reasoning using actual examples. Conclusions. As a result of the study, the author concludes, that atmospheric air is an independent object of legal protection, qualified by special features that allow for the allocation of independent legal regulation for its protection. The author highlights the most significant principles of protecting atmospheric air as an object of legal protection. Based on the studied data, the author was able to identify the key problems that legal regulation of atmospheric air currently faces, as well as propose ways to solve them based on an integrated approach. The author concludes that atmospheric air is a complex and irreplaceable element, the competent legal regulation of the protection of which in the context of global environmental challenges faced by modern humanity plays one of the most significant roles.