polluter-pays principle

Since the early 1970s the “polluter pays” principle has been a dominant concept in environmental law. Many economists claim that much environmental harm is caused by producers who “externalize” the costs of their activities. For example, factories that emit unfiltered exhaust into…

…some countries, are the “polluter pays” principle, which makes polluters liable for the costs of environmental damage, and the precautionary principle, which states that an activity is not allowed when there is a chance that the consequences are irreversible.