論國際投資仲裁處理氣候變遷議題的角色

Abstract

投資仲裁與氣候變遷之關聯為何，對於國家將來如何實施氣候政策以及投資人如何進行跨國投資均有高度之影響。第一章簡述投資仲裁與氣候變遷議題之潛在衝突。第二章從廣義角度，分別討論現有之國際氣候變遷法制、國際貿易法、國際人權法以及各國國內法院如何處理氣候變遷議題，於各種制度下氣候訴訟所遭遇之挑戰及其拘限。第三章於氣候變遷之脈絡下，討論以投資仲裁處理的限制與可能性，本章分為實體面及程序面之不同議題分別為討論。實體面分為：制度目的、政策空間、以及國家實踐：締約國合意。程序面分為：管轄權、仲裁判斷之既有類型及效力、國內法及內國法之適用、反訴、以及第三人參與、公開化及透明化程序。第四章，介紹兩則地主國基於環境保護因素而影響投資之案例。因氣候變遷議題涉及全球之環境保護，自有參考性。第五章，介紹與再生能源政策有關之案例。由類似事實所衍生之大量投資仲裁案例，檢視投資仲裁之現況。

第六章，筆者觀察投資仲裁與氣候變遷議題之關聯。因投資仲裁為中性且獨立之公共財，其具有不可替代性及多樣性，由前述之限制及可能性可知其有處理氣候變遷議題之空間，並且，氣候變遷議題需要大量之私人資本投資，而排除適用投資仲裁並無實際上利益。於解釋論層面，本文提出三種方式，使氣候變遷議題進入投資仲裁之審理範圍：（一）強化締約國意見以及氣候變遷法規之影響、（二）於公平公正待遇原則強化地主國國內法比重、以及（三）於公平公正待遇原則強化投資人審慎義務。於立法論，則已有多樣化之提案供國家未來談判投資協定時為參考。

第七章，筆者建議將氣候變遷議題視為投資仲裁須處理之眾多議題之一，並使投資仲裁成為處理氣候變遷議題之爭端解決機制之一。因投資仲裁之特殊性，其得同時衡量投資人保護以及地主國之公共利益，更得由全球治理之角度為衡量。考量投資仲裁之高額金錢賠償以及強制執行機制，使其成為最能保障再生能源（或其他低碳科技）跨國投資人之爭端解決機制。長遠而言，投資仲裁或得促進國際間資金及技術之流動，使全球社會更有能力因應氣候變遷之挑戰。

The relationship between Investor-State Arbitration and climate change will influence two aspects: how countries will implement climate policies and how investors will invest across borders. Chapter 1 briefly describes the potential conflicts between Investor-State Arbitration and climate change. Chapter 2 examines the existing international climate change legal system, international trade law, international human rights law, and domestic courts. The author compares how these systems deal with climate change issues and their challenges and constraints for climate litigations. Chapter 3 explores the limitations and possibilities of investment arbitration in the context of climate change. This chapter consists of substantive and procedural issues for discussion. In terms of substantive aspects, it is divided into institutional purpose, policy space, and state practice: the agreement of the contracting parties. In terms of procedure, it is divided into jurisdiction, the types and effects of arbitration judgments, the application of international law and domestic laws, counterclaims, third-party participation, and open and transparent procedures.

Chapter 4 introduces two cases where the host state affected the investment based on environmental protection factors. Since climate change could connect to global environmental protection, it has its importance. Chapter 5 summarizes three cases related to renewable energy measures, and examines the current status of investment arbitration.

In Chapter 6, the author made some observations regarding the relationship between investment arbitration and climate change issues. Investor-State Arbitration is a neutral and independent public property. It is irreplaceable and diverse. From the limitations and possibilities of Investor-State Arbitration, it is capable to consider climate change issues in investment disputes. In addition, climate change requires a large amount of private investment. Besides, there is no substantial benefit in excluding investment arbitration. At the level of interpretation, this thesis proposes three ways to bring the issue of climate change into the scope of investment arbitration. At the level of drafting treaties, there are plenty of novel proposals for the future contracting parties of investment agreements.

In Chapter 7, the author suggests considering climate change as one of the many issues to be dealt with in investment arbitration and making investment arbitration one of the dispute resolution mechanisms for solving climate change issues. Due to the uniqueness of investment arbitration, private investor protection and the public interest of the host state can be weighed simultaneously, and it can play a role from the perspective of global governance. Considering the huge amount of monetary compensation and enforcement mechanism of investment arbitration, it becomes the dispute resolution mechanism that best protects transnational investors of renewable energy (or other low-carbon technologies). In the long run, it might promote the flow of international capital and technology, and possibly empower the global community to overcome the challenges of climate change.