Intergenerational and intragenerational equity and transboundary movements of radioactive wastes

• Main Author: Wu, Tung-Chieh Jansen, 1966-
• Other Authors: Toope, Stephen J. (advisor)
• Format: Others
• Language: en
• Published: McGill University 2002
• Subjects: Radioactive wastes > Transportation > Law and legislation.; Environmental ethics.
• Online Access: http://digitool.Library.McGill.CA:80/R/?func=dbin-jump-full&object_id=29566

The purpose of this thesis is to explore the distributional side of environmental risks and burdens and, more particularly, to explain the significance of including intergenerational and intragenerational equity concerns within the fashioning of a legal regime governing the transboundary movement of radioactive waste. The thesis focuses on fairness and equity considerations between generations (intergenerational equity) and within contemporary generations (intragenerational equity) in the context of transboundary movements of radioactive wastes. First, a detailed exploration of the emergence of intergenerational and intragenerational equity principles is conducted. Then, the implementing principles of intergenerational and intragenerational equity with regard to environmental risk and burden distribution are put forward. Further, sensitive to the equity dimensions of the transboundary movement of radioactive waste, the thesis explains transboundary movement within a broader political and economic framework, and illustrates the potential transboundary and transgenerational externalities arising from transboundary movement. Management strategies available to help prevent or reduce transboundary and transgenerational externalities are examined. In addition, the evolution of the legal regime governing transboundary movements is reviewed and proposals for reform of the current regime are presented. Finally, the thesis concludes with concrete observations and recommendations. Through the lens of intergenerational and intragenerational equity, the thesis evaluates the fairness of environmental risk and burden distribution, spatially and intertemporally, in the context of transboundary movements of radioactive wastes.