A perspectiva da criação de um Tribunal Internacional do Meio Ambiente

Abstract

International Environmental Law emerged in the last century and is constantly the target of various transformations due to the dynamics that currently surround international relations. Recently, the major challenge of this branch of International Public Law is to establish its own mechanisms for dispute settlement considering that the existing mechanisms for dispute settlement with respect to disputes that involve the protection of environment are limited. This limitations concern, in particular, the non-compulsory nature and the inter-state character of procedures that are available. Despite the deficiencies of the law, International Courts and Tribunal have issued judgments involving the protection of the environment, as the International Court of Justice, the Appellate Body of World Trade Organization and the Tribunal for Law of the Sea. In this scenario, discussions to face this challenge have been emerged; including several arguments have been advanced to justify the establishment of an International Environmental Court. In the other hand, arguments against the establishment of an International Environmental Court have been advanced as well. Due to these facts, this paper will analyze whether the establishment of an International Court able to judge disputes involving international environmental questions may be one of the tools to face this challenge