Role of ADR methods in environmental conflicts in the light of sustainable development

Abstract

Sustainable development could not be envisaged regardless of protection of the environment and natural resources and achieving economic growth detached from resource use, in other words, sustainable development relies on environmental sustainability. On the other hand, Goal 16 of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, calls for peace, justice, and strong institutions to promote rule of law and access to justice at a global level. Settlement of environmental conflicts is an integral part of environmental sustainability and a part of accessing justice as well. In the light of increasing environmental challenges as a result of the continuous increasing rate of population and lack of global use of the renewed resource of energy has had a substantial influence on the environment, resulting in a corresponding increase in environmental conflicts. With the significantly varied court systems of nations throughout the world and the less efficiency of most of these systems, the question of rethinking and rebuilding effective alternative dispute resolution and further its role in environmental conflicts could be basic and urgent. But on the other hand, alternative dispute resolutions (ADR) have also barriers and negative aspects. The present paper examines and studies the role of ADR methods in environmental disputes and evaluates its efficiency and research on factors that lead to its success or its failure by studying real environmental conflicts from different countries to provide recommendations and suggestions to boost ADR methods in environmental disputes.