HL.a.10—International courts and tribunals
- Syllabus
- First assessment 2026
- Objective
- —
- Level
- HL
Understand the role and limit of environmental tribunals
HL onlyInternational courts and tribunals interpret obligations and settle disputes, but jurisdiction, evidence, remedies and compliance limit what a ruling can achieve.
| Body | Role and example | Limit |
|---|---|---|
| International Court of Justice (ICJ) | hears disputes between states; the Chile–Bolivia Silala River case concerned a shared international waterway | parties may settle, and enforcement depends on states |
| International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS) | applies the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea to maritime disputes | jurisdiction and remedy are bounded by the treaty |
Even after a breach is established, valuing ecological loss, assigning compensation and restoring damaged systems remain difficult.
A legal ruling is not automatic compensation, compliance or ecological restoration.