The United Nations Dispute Settlement System and International Environmental Disputes

Abstract

International security is increasingly considered to have a broader scope than was the case when the protection of national boundaries from external military aggressions was its focus. Today, many other facets of international security have emerged including those in the environmental domain. Inter­national environmental disputes, whether in terms of conflicts initiated from tensions over scarce resources or noncompliance with multilateral treaty obligations, pose new threats to inter­national security. Thus, it is essential to identify and under­stand the institutional capacity of the world community to effectively resolve such disputes. This analysis argues that the United Nations is the international institution best-suited to take on this new challenge to international security, particu­larly through its dispute settlement system. The paper exam­ines this system, identifying both its current capacity to resolve international environmental disputes and the modifications that are necessary to improve its effectiveness in addressing this emerging security concern.