Environmental risk and insurance: with special reference to the EU environmental liability directive

Abstract

The thesis deals with the relation and interaction between environmental pollution and insurance. In our days, the adverse impact of industrial activities on human health, personal properties, natural resources and biodiversity; as well as the need for sustainable development, created a debate on appropriate policies and techniques aimed at improving the current level of environmental protection and preservation. Implementation of environmental policies needs environmental regulations and also some financial instruments. In this context, the first part of the thesis explains the major concepts, which are related to the issue. This part also consists of a chapter, which summarizes principle environmental insurance products. The second part of the thesis deals with the current position of environmental insurance in the U.S., EU Member States and Turkey. In this context, this part deals with environmental laws, which consist of compulsory financial security provisions and voluntary environmental insurance and reinsurance pools. The third and last part of the Thesis examines the EU Environmental Liability Directive dated 2004 in general and the place and possible role of insurance in the new environmental liability regime.|Keywords: Environment, Law, Insurance, Risk, European Union