principles & concepts of international environmental law - atty. nolasco (envi)

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3. PRINCIPS-ES AhJ#CONCTPTS OTINTERNATIONALENVIRONMENTAL LAWl. lntroduction

1 . I his r-hapter i:rr:viiir:s .it.t ovi:rvierv ofthc n.r;iin 1>rinliprk:s ii.c. irrndan-ientalrioctrines on lvirich L)[hers are based,or rL.r les of concir..ict) an

(rr{ler to aLhieve ii.ieia;trahlerlevelopment. Tlrel ;ilso n:.rke r.le.rl-thai the c.:ffr:ris to iniilrovc soi-:iet-v,irrr-iLrding thosc ir-r proicrt thoerrrrirt.rnnrent, achieve peace, artclaccomplisir econilnltcdeve:Iopntcnt. arr: i tilr:rtlcy:ttnrlt-nt.Principle-r -4 arrrj 2l thus r:nrbr:d1'tlre conceilts oi irrtegration anrii nlerdel)e:l den ce.The conce i;ts i;i itriegraiion arrdiit:elrlellpitiietir-e,rtr' sl,tie,i o\Pnnrorr' ('leariv in par'.l5iri:J",h 6 ili the.1 99i Copeli:aqeit llcclaratioii onSoi.ial Deveiol-irtreritt, rt,nicir,l1l1lrlrrr l.Oll ri.rlt'r ll,.il ,'i r)llr,llii(rlcvt'lolrrnt:rrt, sotiai i.lt:r'i:lrittrttcnin',,1,',1f itr.rfilltr,ti[Jl ptt-iler^,'r-lit art'interde;;eirrlenl arrcl rtttrtLrallyrpinl{)rcil'18 r otnl}nrlelli' 'rlsustairti-ilrIe rieveio1-rtttr,tnt, rvhii:h islhc iranrtrrtrrk;lir arrrt oltitr[: it-lachieve a higher r.;L,r;rlii,v oi liie ior;rli people...". Paragraph .i of theItl02 Johannesblrrg [)erclar;itiort onSu sta i rr a b I r: [-)eve] cli;m erri cort f i rr-t.r sthis. L:v stating that "rve assLtn-lr at-ollective responsibilitl' to ativ;tttcearrrJ sirengthcl-l tltc irtterr-k'peniJr:rriancl i:rr,rir.rallr reiirlcrr. ing, pili.rrs of:.. r:.'. :

'-; b :e rli.i ellirlrel:eci-,;tor.--tic 6p''glgpr-i:eni,

-.ocial,:ii,iCiOl)iIeni art

17 i\l the rrationai ievel, tire (.oncelltoi integr.rlil;n oi r,:t.tvitltttnentalconct:nrs u,iih ;ili cther pr:lir-v arrlasis usuall\' lornrLri;itecl as ;]procedural rule tri be .:pri:liecl b,viegislative and adr':rinistrat!ve[]ociiri-s. li is also;t iunrJatrr-'t.italpclstul;rie r:l ritosi rif the naiion;ll

2.

stralegies tor sL rsi.r i n ab leclevelopment. The iLrturu rttrl\/ rvrllivilness inl rr"ase (l i:ltterntiott t{)"srrstainair]i: rit'i.,clci.lrtitrii i;tlv", it:which the si.rer:iiir larvs regarrling.iii spheres oi aclivilr' approori.rlelvi tt f r,rgr;,it

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alsn etrti:,:dietl irr In-' LlniiedN.tiions 4.4iiIerrrrrirrnr IoaI-c (e.9. lhe[:radicatiolr of l]'ovr:rt1') anrJMillerrnirrrr Decl;iratiort (e.8.paragraphs 6, .l 1 .rncl l.i).f:quiiy thLrs inr,lLrrJes Llotl: "irriet-gr,:rrerationai etlLritv" ii.c. the righttrf future getrerations lo erl jo-v .r iairlcr ei oi :he r tiitttt:,tn 1i,tir irttotii tand "intra- geire t;ilir-rrra I eqir itr"'ii.e. ihr: r.ight oi aii preople n'ithi*the cL:rrenI getteralir:tt to iair.tccessto the cirl rerrl getreralion'sontitlr-rnr,rti io tltr-: l:,rrth's r:;tlttralrcsotttt't'1;).

The preser:i gener.llion has a righll{) us(' .iii,J r'rt jor llrl 11'51;1t1 t'' i:lthr: [;rrth i-iut is uttclcr an obligatir:rltr: take inio .rccouttl the lottg-terrl.iinrpact of its acti.",ities and tosr.rstairt thc regr:i-rrr-e bi.tse at:rJ theglobal ertvironntenl ir:r tlre beneiitc-,f iutL;re generatiotrs oihL.rnr.rrrkiiril. it.: lhis coniexl,"irenefii" is givr.:ir its broadestnrearring as inrluding, iriter ;lia,economic. environntelrtal, sociai,arrd intrinsir, g;ti rr.

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-1.1 . !,-rile ila: .;i-,a i. oi.f:S i.'l\e laiai-i'e(j' :,,, t,.1:;1,,1 iriiirl, ?PI;r)t,il.r){). inr ,r>r's lrr'lrlrc tlleltt. Iot r:xai'rt1.llr:,the Sr"r;irernc Court r-rf thr: Reptrblicoi iire Philippines tJei:icled, irr theL'tiitors Oposa case iF'hiii1.l1-rirres -Opr"isa et. al. \i. FLrlgerrr-ir-, S.[::aa:toran, Jr. e't al. C.R. No.10l0Bl), Ihat iire iretitioners carrldfile a class strii, ior others of lheirgeneratir-rn anr-l fr-rr the strcr-er:dirtggeneratiorrs. .l het Cor-rrt, corrsidcrirrgthe conceiri oi iirit:r-erteraliorlalresl:onsibilit1.,. iurlher stated thatc\'erY gcitcr;ilion has ari:sponsiirilitl' tr: tiie next icpreser\.e tnal rhvlltm atrci hartr-ton-vnecess(lry ir-rr ine iL.rll ertjovrilerrt oi.i lraiariccil arrrj ho.:iihrtrI ci:r.ilogy.

ll. Responsibility for Transbounclary Harnr

2,4. Prirrciple 21 tii lne Stockht-rlnrDeclaraiii-r:r recrlgni,z-'s ihesoveroigtt riglrt r-f oar,:h statc ttpctt-tits natirral t.trsoLrIC{::S, orrrph;rsizingth.tt it is iintited l:t, the

1.r]7? Stcckh*lm Declaral it.lrr

Principle 21

"St:rtes h.rve, iri .rr:c-orciattce n'iiil illt:(. h.ri1er oi lire l.,ni1r:rl \;rlicr':s ,lr:rl 'ihei;rii.;ciili,,'s oi i:ticrrr;iiiori,il i.r'4, tllcs,:v'ertign right io crplc;it illei; (lw'llrr-'sor.r-ces lll.rrsirarlt lr) illeir o!r,;ilenvri.rmreri, i pr-riir:res, ai;ri ilrercsponsiLliiiti' to cii-

26.

20 oi the Associ.rliorr c,rf Soirtlr EasiAsian Nalions t"ASEAN"lAgreemi:nt on ii;* {--onservaiion ofNaturc and NatLrrai Rr:sor-rrr:es..l hcI979 Conve:riion on Long- RangeTransboirr:riarv Air Pc;llutior':irifiroducrs Priiir-iple 2'l statrng tiratit ' r:xpre-'sscs iirr: coil ritonconviction thai Siaies har,,e" cin thism,it:pr. P,irtriPle I I .,!s',.rlrpe,rr\;t)article l oi ihr': I992 Cortvr:ntior:on llioir-lgical [-]iversii-v, to wi:ir-]tr,'irtualli, all the staies oi the rvorldrre parties, anri. as rr:stalerl ln iir

1992 Rio Declaration

Principle 1{}''Lir'.,iroirnreria] issi,res .rre i:est h.rrrrJiccl u,itilihc i:articitraiion of ail corrcerttcei r:iiizers. aitlre relevani ievei. r\i the i:,tiiorritl leve], ei,t..irinclivitlr.r.ri slrali ltave api;ri.;i-rririe ii({ress lt)i rrfo rnrai i on c-oi,-ccrr I i I I g lhc t.'ttv i ro:i riierl I tir a i ; sIreld 'i-v pLrbiic aulhr;riiics. i;rclLrdirrgiriiorrir.iticrt on lritr.irtlo,-i-* in,:iertais ;:tltl.-iciiviiir.r: irt ii-rcii r:oittlttLlii:1;es. .ll:rl lllcoppolti.ririi\' io p.rriicillaie ir: der:lsioi-,-r'lrakitiql)To( cs\{'s. 5i,ric-t rir.lii i,:r iiit,rte ,iitcl cr;r'tti.rrllie1 rriirlrr,trr.rtt'il(',;r .r r(| I),1rlir i[).lil()lr il'; rll.ti

1992 llin DeclaralionPrincipie 7

"siaies sir;:ll coooer.itc iir .i spirit cf gloiraicar1nersiiip io (.{)niervF'. pr(iteal aric!rt-.slore ilre lre.rl'ti': ,',nil rrrieBriir, of 1i':eI alilr's ecosl's1et i r. I i': r, ir:tr. r:,1' tl-re .J i1'1-ere;ltcc.ri.ll;'iiri;tic.rirs l{} tlolri,l i-'lvirci':rnettiai(lr).1.)(l.i:i()i'. Sr.;:e.

':..rts { r, i,iIOrr ii..iiliffererriilied resi:onsil';iiilies. -Ilrerleveiopeci coirrti'it-'i aciirrowierias theresi.rorsil>iirlv Iil;1 iirev itr:ar irr ihelrlllr,riror,il l)Lrl:,li;i o! strri,riii,li.rierlli.r:lo1lrirt:ir', iir lielr ril l-ltt: 1;rr:ssirr-es tltcirsocieties plactr on tirt: gir:irai etrviroiit'i-rttii;r:d of ihe lechnolr.rli-'-. rii Dreseni I 9l .sirirscribe-. dnii applies oti thr:3itrDa l, rcg;oni,1 Lr r.rd biiatcra Iler,els. Tire goal of lhe llit-rDeciaraiicn is, accordinH to thefourth paragra[)h of its ;rleanrble,the esialrlisilnrent oi a "...nerv andeclLiitabie globaI partnershi1i..." Theconcept r;f global partnersl'rip catrbe seen ;ls ;1 nrorc ICCer-]trr:forrrrLrlation r;i tltr: r-,L-ligaiion tor--00perate, ailii is becomirrginrreasingi-v inrpori.rrt. Principle 7r('i{.,r'5 i(J rl,lli'r. I}rri l}1n r ilnt't'}ri ,,iglr-ibal partnersl-:ip; in;iy also Lrecxlencled to noil-stat-- enlil-ies.

rlesr.riirecl in paraflraph 62 ancli.i,rrlhe r.

i'firrr iirlr' - ,tl'r).111'.il-r rll t {)lllillt)lli;ul difierentiatecl reslton-cibiiities.iltis tlcnt.'iti is,l \\'\ l,r i,ri'r';l(.( (]:-ir)I r.;f t1itie'rirrg ( il'ctilI5i.lrl(-r-r.P.:riii-iliarlv irt t'ar:h st;lte !i,-lt,lrii.,' li,r': i,r l:ie i r{},rliol} (tr-=n'",ironmetrl.iI i:rohlems .lrlri irr risal.ri I ity trl ltt'itr,t'til, rr,jttrc a r.trir,ot:lrOl iitcttt. I't,rlt '. tr i'r,t',t'rti ieli.'s lr,tr,,' irl llrr' 1r,r,l tll lrtr't'll.cr cirr|enllt, imltose, ailisproporiiort;ltt: l)r{JSSiit(:r or) thcglr"rlral environtnt:ttt .itirl u'ltir itconrrn,ind relaiivFriv lriqh lt'r'els ol.iechnoiogical artcl iirratrciairar$oLrrces Liear ;i pr.)poliiotl;r l]Ylrighe,r lk:grec r.rf res;;onsil.rilit-v inlhe intern.tlional 1:L;rsr,rii ofsri5la i nall ie Lievr:loptllett l.

In r)r,rrliral lr'r'tt:. llil t.rit:r't'pt r.ri.0n')firiln bl.rl diiferentiaierlre:ponsibiliti;trtic i1.ralir.'nar:iJ erlLtilr,. -i'his rrliv resrr!t incliiierential legril nt.rrnrs. suLh ils inthe, 1L)87,\lontreral Protocol or1Suirstartr-r:s ihat dr:plotr.: the (JzoneL.:y-or (See cir.tpler 9 oi thisTr aining ;\4arrrral). ln designirtgs1.rt:r ifir- diftbreniiaterd regiiltes, thr:s;lelr-i"tl rret'rjs ;1nd iirtr:t('st'; rlidevelolriitg ctLtrrtries ,1'rd oicutrnlr;15 rr ith ts(oni,lllie\ irrtr;:r'isition, !\,'ilh Ilart;cuIar rr,'g;trd toieas[ developtttl cot,rttritts andtlrose a|ieclecj ;rcjvercelt' b1'erryironr-r'rpr-rt,ti. \or i,rl ,irr,l(Jrl\l{.'l(ll)lllt}lll,ll tlrl',i(lt)r,rt,i)ll!,,siior,iId ber rr,rr-'r'lgrtizetl.

-ll. Accurrling Lo tht: (rotl(l('l)l ttic(]il'il'ilon Ltirt ditterr:ntiatcdrespoilsibilities, rltve loperl..lLm[ries bear .r special burderr c-rfrerpolrsibilit,v in reclijcillg alld

39.

40.

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Irrler n;rliorr.rl a) r'g.l il is.l I ion s.Irrrsinc'ss r'ntitir,:,s iincltrr-lirrSi irr;larticular tl.arisnatiottal br-rsitrcssentiiies), NCOs and Civil Sociei,vnlrrre Selrer,ilit siror;),1 r,;oltr'l,llr' ill;1nd contribL'te- to ihis glollali:artnership. Pollutcrs, regari.liess r-rftheir legal iorm. nra,v alsc have alsoresponsibiiilies pu15L,iant to the"Poliuier- P;rys Irrini:ipr le"

Training l4anual on International Environmental Law. UNEP. 10

eiirr:inating unsirstainal:ie p;litertrsoi ;;rtrrlur iion ,:ilrl colls,imlll.ofiand in cor-rtril;irtinq to i:;tpacitv-irtrildirr3 irt dt'rt'iuiri'tB r oit tlrir'