Analysis of Normative Hierarchy in International Environmental Law

Although international law mostly composed of identical norms, it contains some hierarchical elements. At the top of this hierarchy are the Jus Cogens norms, which have a higher legal quality than other norms. On the other hand, customary rules of international law also have a special place among legal norms, because customary rules of international law are generally binding on all states and have erga omnes effect and consequently limit the sovereignty of states. Accordingly, the international community is transitioning from state-centered community to human-centered community in which the element of the will of states as the factor in shaping the rules of international law is modified and international principles and values, including the protection of the global environment, play a greater role in gradual development of international law.

This research is based on analytical-descriptive legal inductive method.

The present study seeks to develop a normative hierarchical theory in the realm of international environmental law in order to provide a solution to address the shortcomings of the international environmental law system. The findings of this study show that the normative hierarchy in international environmental law, through the fundamental values of the international community, which appear in the form of customary rules and Jus Cogens norms of international law, provide a framework for environmental protection and resolving normative conflicts in international litigation. 

The conclusion of the present article is that some principles of international environmental law, such as the principle of no-harm, which requires due diligence, have been recognized as a customary rule in the realm of international environmental law. On the other hand, it seems that despite the fact that some environmental norms have the capacity to become Jus Cogens norms, they have not yet been able to achieve that status.