Monthly archive September, 2017

Determining the legal nature and content of EIAs in International Environmental Law: What does the ICJ decision in the joined Costa Rica v Nicaragua/Nicaragua v Costa Rica cases tell us?

The recent joined cases that brought Costa Rica and Nicaragua into conflict before the International Court of Justice (ICJ) concerned the two states’ activities in the border area. In particular, they focused on the dredging of some parts of the shared San Juan river by Nicaragua, and the construction of a road by Costa Rica...

Determining significance for EIA in International Environmental Law

Following the filing of an application in 2010, Costa Rica claimed that Nicaragua had dredged the San Juan River in violation of its international obligations; in 2011, Nicaragua filed its own application arguing that major road construction works alongside the same river were in violation of international environmental law. How to determine significance as the...

Environmental Impact Assessment after the International Court of Justice decision in Costa Rica-Nicaragua and Nicaragua-Costa Rica: Looking backward, looking forward

Introduced by Annalisa Savaresi The practice of Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) has become part of environmental decision-making routine all over the world. EIAs are aimed at identifying the likely environmental, human health and welfare consequences of projects such as dams, motorways and other major infrastructure, at a stage when it can materially influence decision-making.[1] In...