This thesis provides a broad introduction to the situation of environmental responsibility in Europe by providing a detailed examination of environmental liability legislation in Europe. It explores the legal issues of cross-border environmental injury and discusses the relevant international treaties as well as the European Commission's Environmental Liability Directive. It also includes the results of a comparative analysis of private law aspects of environmental liability in European countries, although it focuses largely on private law issues of environmental liability in Italy. It addresses the most important concerns in tort law's application to environmental law, such as no-fault liability, demonstrating causes, the scope of available solutions, and the issue of legal basis. Due to the limited unifying effect of the EC Environmental Responsibility Directive, national legal system will continue to play a crucial role in the area of environmental responsibility.