E. To establish liability for future pollution

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E. Understanding Liability for Future Pollution: Legal Frameworks and Climate Accountability In a world increasingly shaped by climate change and environmental degradation, establishing liability for future pollution has become a critical legal and ethical challenge. As industrial activities, urbanization, and resource extraction accelerate environmental harm, society faces urgent questions: Who is responsible for pollution that will persist for decades—if not centuries? And how can legal systems hold parties accountable when the impacts of their actions are not immediate but long-term? ### E. What Is Future Pollution Liability? Future pollution liability refers to the legal responsibility assigned to individuals, corporations, or governments for environmental damage that manifests long after the initial actions caused it. This concept extends traditional environmental law principles—rooted in the “polluter pays” doctrine—into intergenerational accountability. Pollution released today may not cause visible harm for decades due to cumulative effects, but the obligation to anticipate, prevent, and compensate remains.