The Precautionary Principle in International Environmental Law: Conflicting Dimensions in Economic Perspective

Abstract

Survival and well-being of all animate things depends on healthy and productive environment. As a result of human interference, unsustainable growth and inadequate precautionary measures our planet is witnessing environmental imbalances, affecting lives of all creatures including human beings. Problem of environmental pollution transcended geographical limits necessitating the co-operation between all State Parties and other stakeholders at the international level. In this regard International Environmental Law seems to be subjectively sufficiently developed, yet due to its inherent defects and aversion of State parties in implementing International Conventions turned problem of environmental pollution and degradation from bad to worse. There are many instances wherein lack of accountability on part of State parties concerning environmental protection resulted in total destruction of habitat (ex: Ganga River Water Pollution in India) and often human activity caused many irreversible or inherently dangerous impact on both natural and human environment, but respective State Parties and stakeholders failed to take timely actions to maintain eco-logical balance and prevention of environmental degradation. To the contrary, with view to protect economic interests, international commitments are also undermined and no affirmative steps were taken to implement conventional obligations, amongst of all such vulnerable aspects of International Environmental Law, the Principle of Precautionary measures is one, and it is being regularly exposed to dilemmas interpretations, both as to its meaning and relevance. Accordingly researcher considered it as an apt subject matter of research.