Rules of Environmental Liability for the Prevention and Remediation of Environmental Damage.
The Environmental Liability Directive and the laws enacted in its implementation regulate liability for environmental damage to three key protected assets under environmental law. In Austria, implementation was achieved through the Federal Environmental Liability Act and the state environmental liability laws.
In accordance with the Austrian distribution of competences, damage to protected species and natural habitats (often referred to as biodiversity) as well as soil damage caused by certain activities fall within the regulatory scope of the Federal Provinces. The introduction of liability for biodiversity damage represents a significant innovation in the Austrian legal system.
