The transboundary transfer of environmental risks as a challenge to international law

With international transfer of environmental risks particularly moving from north to south, - waste trading being a topical example of what is going on -the recipient states are importing serious environmental problems. Four characteristic problem areas are chosen to show the factual basis offered by international law for attempts to resolve the problems, reviewing at the same time the results achieved so far by cooperation among the states. These areas are transboundary management and disposal of nuclear and non-nuclear wastes, international trading of chemicals, and worldwide transfer of hazardous technologies, including transnational investment activities bearing upon the environment. The book presents a comparative analysis of the available instruments of international law regarding assignment of responsibility and thus liability for environmental impacts to the various parties concerned, and discusses them in the context of the international law system. The analysis shows deficits and potentials for improvement of the existing international law regime, as well as the scope available on national and international level to establish appropriate rules and laws for controlling risk transfer, subject to the international law principles of jurisdiction and the GATT. The book presents a comprehensive analysis of the extent of a topical issue of environmental policy in its factual and international law frame. (orig./HP)