论环境影响评价的国际法义务——以国际法院判例为视角

The International Obligation of Environmental Impact Assessment:Based on the Jurisprudence of International Court of Justice

环境影响评价是目前正在进行的国家管辖范围以外区域海洋生物多样性养护和可持续利用国际协定谈判的研究专题之一,这一最新实践发展再次引起了对环境影响评价的关注。虽然现有部分国际条约规定了环境影响评价义务的具体要求,但其缔约国数量有限,而相关"建议"或"指南"本身缺乏法律拘束力,因此,国际法院的司法判例更具普遍借鉴意义。国际法院认为,国家有义务对具有严重跨界损害危险的活动进行环境影响评价,强调其习惯国际法属性。此外,国际法院也提出了环境影响评价义务的适用、程序要求以及相关国家责任形式。因此,国际法院判例进一步阐述了环境影响评价义务,这有助于敦促规划活动的国家履行必要注意义务,防止其滥用权利规避环境影响评价义务。不过,国际法院强调环境影响评价的程序义务属性,在实体内容和实质影响方面,从事规划活动的国家仍然具有较大的自由裁量权,并且仅仅违反环境影响评价义务本身一般只能引起抵偿的国家责任。

Environmental impact assessment(EIA) has been identified as one topic for the current negotiation of an international legally binding instrument on the conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity of areas beyond national jurisdiction, and this latest practical development has once again drawn attention to the issue of EIA. While some relevant international treaties specify the EIA obligation, given the limited states parties to such treaties and the lack of legally binding force of other recommendations or guidance, the jurisprudence of the International Court of Justice possesses more general significance. Firstly, according to the Court, it is required by customary international law that a State is obliged to undertake an EIA where there is a risk of significant transboundary harm. Besides, the Court specifies the conditions for application, procedural requirements as well as the form of state responsibility for its violation. Therefore, the jurisprudence of the Court expounds the obligation of EIA, which can urge the State pursuing the activity to fulfill its obligation of due diligence and prevent such States from abusing their discretions to circumvent the obligation of EIA. Nevertheless, the Court emphasizes that this obligation is essentially of procedural nature, especially, its substantial content and influence depend upon the discretion of the State to a large extent, and the mere violation of the obligation of EIA can only give rise to satisfaction as the form of state responsibility.