Use of Criminal Sanctions in the Protection of the Environment; Internationally, Domestically and Regionally

Participants in the meeting were 81 experts attending in their personal capacity from 27 countries, from intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations and from academe. At the outset the question was posed as to what values or interests we need to protect. In this context it was pointed out that the concept of “environment” is normally not known to the criminal law. It was suggested that the environment had become an important value per se and that hence a philosophical approach should be adopted. It was stated that the legitimacy of utilizing criminal sanctions was traditionally founded on the protection of interests of individuals and hence, by extension, to societies and nations in their entirety. Discussion then turned to an examination of the strengths and limits of the use of criminal sanctions in achieving environmental protection, both at the national and international levels, various criteria for the imposition of criminal liability were raised, the advantages and disadvantages of criminal law sanctions were discussed, and transboarder enforcement in relations to offences against the environments.

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