Towards a coherent framework of transnational corporations' responsibility in international environmental law

Abstract

The increasing role played by transnational corporations (TNCs) in the international arena, and especially the impact of their activities on the environment, necessitates the establishment of a coherent framework for the treatment of TNCs. For the purposes of the present article, the main question is whether and how international environmental law could be utilized to ensure the environmentally sound conduct of TNCs. This article proposes the construction of an environmental responsibility framework that would combine different types of endeavours within the realm of international environmental law. The environmental dimension of TNCs’ responsibility accommodates both hard and soft law norms, in order to influence the environmental behavior of TNCs.