International liability and global policy implementation

Abstract

This project looked at the problems and potential of states’ international liability for transboundary damage as a means of implementing global policy which requires states to minimise or avoid transboundary damage. It based the success of the liability system on the liability system's ability to provide an incentive structure so that states carried out international obligations, thus implementing global policy. The system’s success was also measured against the ability of states to translate the policy through to the operational level where transboundary damage is initiated.

Having found that the implementation process was not reliable at either the international or national level, the conclusion of the project is that an international liability system for transboundary damage is not a reliable mechanism for the implementation of global policy.