The responsibility of States towards climate change : How are States held liable for their impact on climate change and its effects ?

Details

Supervisors

d'Argent, Pierre

Faculty

Faculté de droit et de criminologie

Degree label

Master de spécialisation en droit international

Abstract

This research thesis aims at answering the following question: how are States held responsible – and to some extent, liable – for their impact on climate change? Through the revision of United Nations' concepts and treaties on the responsibility of States for climate change, customary environmental law principles applicable to climate change and related litigation (attempts at the international level and domestic case law), this work assesses the current state of affairs of State's liability for climate change, and explores potential areas of development. At a first level of comprehension, the work is divided into two distinct sections: theoretical grounds of understanding and case studies. At a second level of comprehension, two specific aspects of States’ liability towards climate change are the centre of focus: responsibility for non-compliance to international commitments in terms of climate change mitigation (e.g. reduction of GHG emissions) and possibility for reparation for the losses and damages caused by anthropogenic effects of climate change.