Title: Nuclear terrorism and environmental protection under international law

Authors: Bahram Ghiassee

Addresses: School of Civil Engineering & Construction, Kingston University London, Kingston upon Thames, UK

Abstract: To counter nuclear and radiological terrorism and prevent the adverse economic, social and environmental consequences of such illicit acts perpetrated by non-state actors, the international community has established a comprehensive legal framework comprising soft law and legally binding instruments. This paper collates the international legal instruments relating to nuclear security and discusses the nature of the threat, and the degree of risk posed to nuclear material and nuclear facilitates by non-state actors. This study also examines the efficacy of this rather nascent global legal framework, and discusses the shortcomings of the regime. This work further assesses the extent to which the provisions of these legal instruments address environmental issues.

Keywords: nuclear law; nuclear terrorism; radiological terrorism; nuclear security; environmental law; environmental protection; international law; soft law; legally binding instruments; nuclear energy; nuclear power.

DOI: 10.1504/IJNGEE.2014.065931

International Journal of Nuclear Governance, Economy and Ecology, 2014 Vol.4 No.2, pp.83 - 99

Accepted: 09 Aug 2014
Published online: 29 Nov 2014 *

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