Climate Change and International Investment Agreements

This article analyzes how International Investment Agreements (IIAs) might constrain the ability of governments to adopt climate change measures. This article will consider how climate change measures can either escape the application of IIA obligations or be justified under exceptions. First, this...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Chinese journal of international law (Boulder, Colo.) Colo.), 2015-06, Vol.14 (2), p.305-339
Main Author: Condon, B. J.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Climate change
Environmental regulations
Foreign investment
International agreements
Obligations
Studies
Citations: Items that cite this one
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Summary:This article analyzes how International Investment Agreements (IIAs) might constrain the ability of governments to adopt climate change measures. This article will consider how climate change measures can either escape the application of IIA obligations or be justified under exceptions. First, this article considers the role of treaty structure in preserving regulatory autonomy. Then, it analyzes the role that general scope provisions can play in excluding environmental regulation from the scope of application of IIAs. Next, this article will consider how the limited incorporation of environmental exceptions into IIAs affects their interpretation and application in cases involving environmental regulation. The article then analyzes non-discrimination obligations, the minimum standard of treatment for foreign investors and obligations regarding compensation for expropriation. This analysis shows that tribunals can exclude environmental regulation from the scope of application of specific obligations as well.
ISSN:1540-1650
1746-9937
DOI:10.1093/chinesejil/jmv023