Sustainability and the Legal Liability of Large Corporations for Environmental Damage

الملخص

In recent decades, the world has witnessed growing interest in the concept of environmental sustainability, which aims to achieve a balance between economic growth, environmental protection, and social well-being. Given the significant role played by large corporations in harming the environment as a result of their industrial and commercial activities, it has become imperative to hold them legally accountable. This has led to the development of environmental legal liability frameworks in many countries, where they are among the most prominent contributors to environmental degradation. This has led to growing calls for them to be legally held accountable for the environmental damage they cause.

The legal liability of large corporations for environmental damage is an essential element for achieving environmental sustainability. By strengthening national and international legal frameworks, implementing ESG tools, and ensuring environmental justice, communities and countries can push companies to take their environmental responsibilities seriously. It requires governments, regulators, companies, and civil society to work together to create a meaningful, cohesive legal system that achieves the dual aim of improving environmental protections and eleminating the impunity of environmental crimes. In light of this wider context, the purpose of this research is to examine the intersection between environmental sustainability and corporate legal responsibility. It looks at the relevant national and international legal frameworks, and reviews the vehicles that force companies to be accountable for their impact on the environment as either developers of environmental, social, and governance [ESG] considerations, or indirectly through laws on disclosure, due diligence, and punitive damages. This research concludes that corporate legal accountability is a fundamental pillar for ensuring effective environmental sustainability, and that developing stricter and fairer legislation is a necessary step toward reducing pollution and promoting environmental justice, especially in light of transnational challenges and the complexities of the global economy.