Transboundary harms in International Environmental Law

The increasing environmental problems caused the globalisation of environment that has to be inevitably taken into account by international law. The need of the protection of environment and its significance were the main reason for the creation of a new sub- branch of international law, namely ?International Environmental Law?. One of the most fundamental issues that international environmental law addresses is environmental harms, in particular, the transboundary harms. In this study, the concept of transboundary harms and its legal progress, the ambit and scope of the existing rules related to the harms will be examined.The concept of transboundary harms has been accepted by the international community and it was recognised by the international environmental law. Such harms have subjected to some international arrangements and also they have taken their places in the practice of international judicial institutions. However, in international environmental disputes, international courts/tribunals operating in the field of settlement of international environmental disputes have not been so keen to refer to the regulations of international environmental law. On the other hand, it has been witnessed that States, mainly developed States, prefer not to take active roles towards international environmental issues. This situation casts a shadow on both the progress of transboundary harms in international environmental law and international environment law?s own progress.Key Words: Environment, International Environmental Law, Transboundary Harms