Abstract
Environmental pollution by its very nature causes extensive damage to the environment, human lives and property. The aim of environmental law is to prevent damage, protect and preserve the environment and impose liability on actors for their illegal acts, or for the adverse consequences of their lawful activities. Liability is an obligation of a person to provide compensation or take redress measures for damage resulting from an action or a situation for which that person is deemed to be responsible under the applicable law. This chapter discusses the issue of liability for damage to the environment under international law laying emphasis on defining environmental damage under multi-lateral environmental agreements, state liability for environmental damage, guidelines for state responsibility for internationally wrongful act, especially under the United Nations Compensation Commission, noting the threshold of significance in claims for environmental damage as well as reparations for environmental damage. The chapter also discusses criminal liability for environmental damage under international environmental law, especially in areas of crime against the environment, including wildlife and forest crimes.
