The precautionary principle and a fair allocation of the burden of proof in international environmental law

Notwithstanding the general acknowledgment of its importance, there are still uncertainties and ambiguities as to the precise meaning and actual application of the precautionary principle in international environmental law. In the context of decision making at the inter-State level, it has been explained that one of the interpretations of this principle means a 'shift' in the allocation of the burden of proof. Unsurprisingly, a similar effect of the principle can be, and has been, claimed in dispute settlement. Given these claims, the general aim of this article is twofold: first, to define what a 'shift' in the allocation of the burden of proof actually means; and second, to explore and assess whether this theoretical/conceptual understanding of the 'shift' is applied when the precautionary principle is at stake, and whether there are good reasons to apply it in dispute settlement and decision-making processes.

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