8 - International Environmental Liabilities of the Sponsoring State and the International Seabed Authority

Summary

This chapter recapitulates the main findings of the book. First, it rearticulates that the principle of CHM as the tenet for the DSM regime can stand against changes of circumstances as it reflects a trend of international law – community interests. Then, it explains the role each participant plays in the marine environmental protection in DSM. Thirdly, it highlights the role of marine sciences as well as the necessity to respond to its limitations. Fourthly, it clarifies international environmental obligations of participants. Especially, it highlights the fact that the ISA takes a leading role in applying the precautionary approach which is of particular importance in a context of scientific uncertainty of DSM’s impact on the marine environment. Fifthly, it synthesizes the establishment, content and implementation of liability of participants, and points out the practical difficulties in the application of liability regimes. Final observations about the future development of DSM regime are made in the end.