NCJ Number
101112
Journal
Environmental Impact Assessment Review Volume: 5 Issue: 2 Dated: (June 1985) Pages: 111-116
Date Published
1985
Length
6 pages
Annotation
This paper discusses the need for and advantages of an international environmental conciliation system and proposes a model for such a system.
Abstract
Because international environmental disputes affect shared resources and ongoing relationships and often involve irreversible effects, they are particularly amenable to resolution through intervention by neutrals working in conjunction with technical experts. Comparative studies show that in the Pacific Basin (China, Japan, Australia, the United States, etc.) most environmental disputes are being resolved through processes of mediation, negotiation, and conciliation. Examples of successful environmental conciliation include the Foothills Dam case, involving the United States and Canada, and the Indus River case. In both of these cases, neutrals were able to facilitate a positive, problemsolving approach based on the disputants' needs rather than on political considerations. International environmental conciliation will become increasingly important in the future in such areas as acid rain and radioactive fallout pollution. It, therefore, will be wise to have an international environmental conciliation group affiliated with the United Nations but independent of UNEP. Also needed will be a well-planned training curriculum that will provide a corps of conciliators from various cultures, language backgrounds, and technical areas.