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Environmental Hazards Arising from the Nord Stream Pipeline ‎Explosions in the Framework of International Environmental Law

Articles in Press

Document Type : Article

Authors

1 Assistant Prof in public of International Law, Department of law, Faculty of Humanities, Bu-Ali ‎Sina University, Hamadan, Iran‎.

2 ‎. Ph.D. Student in International Law, Department of Law, Faculty of Humanities, Islamic Azad ‎University of Hamadan, Hamadan, Iran‎

Abstract

In recent years, the understanding of environmental risks has significantly expanded, with environmental crises such as air, soil, and marine pollution, global warming, hazardous material emissions, and environmental degradation becoming pressing concerns for the international community. On September 26, 2022, unknown actors deliberately detonated four explosions on the Nord Stream pipelines, located on the seabed of the Baltic Sea, near the disposal site of chemical munitions remaining from World War II, in the vicinity of Bornholm Island. This raises the question: what are the human environmental risks resulting from these explosions, and how can environmental protection be ensured during armed conflicts? Using documents and library sources with a descriptive-analytical approach, the findings indicate that the gas emissions from these explosions not only contribute to global warming but also cause the destruction of marine ecosystems, harming marine mammals and fish. To protect the environment, an international environmental legal framework, comprised of principles, treaties, and customary law, exists to safeguard the environment during both peacetime and wartime. According to these rules, there is an international human right to a healthy environment, and consequently, the Nord Stream pipeline explosions can be considered a violation of human rights and humanitarian law.

Keywords

Main Subjects

References

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Public Law Studies Quarterly

Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript
Available Online from 20 March 2026
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History
  • Receive Date: 04 December 2023
  • Revise Date: 23 September 2024
  • Accept Date: 15 September 2024
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