The compensation convention: Path to a global regime for dealing with legal liability and compensation for nuclear damage

The adoption of the Convention on Supplementary Compensation for Nuclear Damage (Compensation Convention) opens a new chapter in international nuclear liability law. The Compensation Convention provides the world community with the opportunity to deal with legal liability and compensation for nuclear damage through a global regime that includes all countries that operate nuclear power plants (nuclear power generating countries) and most countries that do not operate nuclear power plants (non-nuclear power generating countries). Such a global regime can remove legal uncertainty as an impediment to (1) ensuring the highest level of safety in nuclear activities and (2) arranging international co-operation in nuclear projects, while guaranteeing the availability of meaningful compensation in the event of a nuclear incident. This article describes the features of the Compensation Convention that create the opportunity for a global regime. It also discusses some of the provisions in the convention that underlie these features