The International Law Review Association: Online Forum
Abstract
Record-breaking wildfires are striking the United States and Canada with troubling, increasing frequency. As wildfires know no borders, climate change-related wildfires will increasingly damage the ecosystems and economies of both nations unless they develop an efficient system of cooperation to deal with this shared threat. As the U.S. and Canada share similar cultures, legal systems, and interests in preserving their ecosystems and air qualities, these countries are in a unique position to share intelligence and resources to properly address the scale of these disasters. Scholars such as Madison Gaffney have noted the potential for current legislation to expand and treat aspects of these crises. But, a comprehensive defense against all of the risks posed by increasing wildfires will require more proactive coordination, including a willingness by either nation to be held accountable for their own disasters when the negative externalities of domestic wildfires begin to damage neighbors.
As the United States and Canada share both the world’s largest land border and a robust, healthy diplomatic relationship, the development of a proactive, bilateral disaster response policy between the two nations could form the blueprint for other nations as the effects of climate change begin to compound. This paper attempts to outline the possible political and legal developments that would better protect both countries from shared environmental disasters.
Recommended Citation
Nicholas Smetzer,
Case Note,
U.S.-Canadian Wildfire Cooperation,
ILRA Student Forum
(2023)
