The 'Polluter Pays Principle': Environmental liabilities and scientific evidence under the Italian law system

Abstract

The “Polluter Pays“ Principle is a cornerstone in environmental law. The Italian law system, like other European ones, show that this principle, although being easy to understand, is hard to be implemented. Case law and experience confirm that a multidisciplinary approach, combining legal competences and technical expertise, is required to make this principle effective, especially when contamination dates to a distant past.