ABSTRACT
The possibility of sanctions being used against states as a coercive device to secure compliance is provided in some form or other in several multilateral environmental agreements (MEAs). Beyond the limited range of sanctions that may be applied to contracting parties in international law and practice, some MEAs also provide for coercive measures to be imposed on non-parties as a means of upholding the integrity of the international environmental pact. Some MEAs may make provision for sanctions of various kinds to be targeted at individual polluters. In general, for reasons associated with statal sensitivities over national sovereignty, few international accords require contracting parties to introduce punitive measures to be imposed on individuals acting in breach of minimum treaty requirements. As far as civil liability is concerned, a few MEAs require contracting parties to ensure that arrangements are in place to ensure that polluters are required to pay compensation in respect of environmental damage.
