Multiple Risks and Limited Law: Compensation for Oil Spills in the Context of Long-Term Damages to Arctic Coastal Communities

Abstract

Oil spills at sea can have devastating long-term economic and social effects on coastal communities. While international law has been used in multiple ways in the last decades to deal with the threat posed by oil spills, especially in the context of oil tanker disasters, the legal protections afforded to coastal communities remain limited. As Arctic sea ice melts due to climate change, ship operations in the Arctic are becoming more relevant and the risk of marine oil spills increases. This article shows different options for coastal communities affected by oil spills to obtain compensation based on existing international treaty norms.

Keywords: shipping, oil spills, Arctic, coastal communities, liability, compensation, insurance, tort, climate change

JEL Classification: K33