Part VIII Compliance, Implementation, and Effectiveness, Ch.60 International Environmental Law Disputes Before International Courts and Tribunals

Subject(s):

International environmental law — Jurisdiction — Reparations

This chapter examines how international environmental law (IEL) disputes are resolved before international courts and tribunals, addressing when parties will decide to litigate an IEL dispute as opposed to utilizing another form of dispute settlement. Assuming there is reason to pursue adjudication or arbitration, it looks at questions of jurisdiction. The chapter also considers preliminary matters that emerge in these cases, notably questions of standing and whether provisional measures are needed and may be secured before an international court or tribunal. It then turns to substantive matters, but only in the context of presentation of the case in terms of evidence and use of experts. Finally, the chapter assesses the available reparations in the resolution of IEL disputes before international courts and tribunals. Ultimately, considerable progress may be noted in respect of the use of international courts and tribunals for IEL disputes, but it is prudent to observe that in this area of international law, preventing the emergence of IEL disputes is ultimately more important than ex post facto responses to environmental damage.