Governance & Policy

Transboundary Impact

Meaning statusEstablishedSource recordDirect document linkedWhy these are different

Definition

A transboundary impact is an environmental effect of an activity that occurs in a state other than the state of origin — pollution carried across borders by rivers and air, or impacts of shared infrastructure. International law addresses it through the no-harm principle, the Espoo Convention (1991) requiring transboundary environmental impact assessment and notification of affected states for listed projects, and the ILC's draft articles on prevention of transboundary harm.

References

unece.orgBulk import source

Source imported for editorial provenance.

Source organisationSupporting reference

This reference provides supporting context for how “Transboundary Impact” is defined and used.

Overview

How it is used

The concept structures transboundary EIA procedures (Espoo), shared watercourse diplomacy, air pollution treaties (LRTAP) and liability claims.

Why it matters

Pollution respects no borders; transboundary impact law is the slow construction of governance to match that fact.