Article

All's not fair in (civil) war : criminal liability for environmental damage in internal armed conflict

Carl E. Bruch

• Vermont law review, Vol. 25, 2001, p. 695-752

English

Also published in Karen Hulme (ed.), Law of the environment and armed conflict, 2017.

This article considers possible ways to hold combatants accountable for their actions during internal armed conflict, particularly those that harm the environment. Part I surveys the legal framework governing internal armed conflict, particularly norms that may constrain environmentally harmful actions. Part II examines the possibilities for imposing criminal liability for environmental damage arising from international armed conflicts. Part III presents some thoughts on ways to strengthen existing international and domestic norms and institutions to limit and sanction environmental devastation in internal armed conflicts.