International environmental liability and the governance of hazardous waste: A doctrinal analysis of the 2025 chemical spill in Zambia
Keywords:
Corporate due diligence, Environmental liability, Hazardous waste governance, Zambia chemical spillAbstract
This study examines international environmental liability and hazardous-waste governance through a doctrinal analysis of the 2025 chemical spill in Zambia. The failure of a mining tailings dam released large quantities of toxic substances into the Kafue River system, causing serious ecological damage and long-term risks to human health. The research asks to what extent existing international environmental law, including the principles of prevention, no harm, polluter pays, and due diligence, provides a coherent basis for responsibility of both the Zambian state and the multinational corporate operator. Using a normative juridical method, the study analyses treaties, customary international law, soft law instruments, case law, and relevant national legislation. It finds that international rules on prevention and environmental protection are relatively clear for states; however, corporate actors remain primarily regulated through domestic law and indirect state responsibility. The Zambia spill reveals gaps in corporate accountability, transboundary risk management, access to effective remedies, and environmental rehabilitation. The article concludes with proposals to strengthen domestic liability regimes, clarify international standards on corporate due diligence and tailings management, and improve compliance and monitoring at the international level.
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