Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Introduction to Environmental Human Rights and Climate Change

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Environmental Human Rights and Climate Change

  • 2204 Accesses

Abstract

In recent decades we have observed an increased engagement with human rights law as a tool for activating environmental claims and pursuing environmental justice. We have reached an understanding that the relationship between environmental protection and human rights is mutually supportive, yet at the same time characterised by tensions and complexities which make it difficult to articulate clearly and comprehensively in law. This chapter introduces the concept of environmental human rights, and outlines the areas which will be examined further in the remainder of the book. In particular, it identifies the two key topics which are the subject of specific analysis, being the notion of a standalone human right to a good environment and the applicability of environmental human rights to climate change. This analysis leads to the conclusion that, while the environmental dimensions of existing rights have much to offer in addressing climate change and other environmental challenges, the concept of a standalone environmental right remains problematic, particularly if we seek to include it in the body of international human rights law. It is not possible to define a right to a good environment in a way which is at the same time theoretically cogent, practically useful, legally enforceable and politically acceptable for States. Rather than pursue recognition of a new right within international law, work should instead focus on clarifying and developing the environmental dimensions of existing human rights to strengthen the interdependent relationship between the environment and human rights.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 84.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 109.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 159.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Notes

  1. 1.

    See, for example, Budayeva and others v Russia (European Court of Human Rights, Application Nos 15339/02, 21166/02, 20058/02, 11673/02 and 15343/02, 20 March 2008); Lopez-Ostra v Spain (1994) 303-C Eur Court HR (ser A); Oneryildiz v Turkey (2004) XII Eur Court HR 657; Tatar v Romania (European Court of Human Rights, Application no 67021/01, 27 January 2009). These cases will be discussed in more detail in Chap. 2.

  2. 2.

    See for example international and regional treaties, including the Antarctic Treaty, the Convention on Biological Diversity (1992), the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (1992) and the Aarhus Convention (2001), as well as in soft law instruments like the Rio Declaration (1992) and domestic environmental law.

  3. 3.

    In addition to the European cases listed at footnote 1 above, see also the Ogonliand decision of the African Commission for Human and People’s Rights (2002); the United Nations Human Rights Committee’s decision in the Port Hope Environmental Group v Canada complaint (1982) and the Inter-American Court of Human Rights’ ruling in Yakye Axa Indigenous Community v Paraguay (2005).

References

Legislation and Treaties

  • Antarctic Treaty, 402 UNTS 71 opened for signature 1 December 1959, entered into force 23 June 1961

    Google Scholar 

  • American Declaration on the Rights and Duties of Man, OAS Res XXX, OEA/Ser.L./V.II.23, doc. 21, rev. 6 (1948), reprinted in Basic Documents Pertaining to Human Rights in the Inter-American System, OEA/Ser.L.V./II.82, doc. 6, rev. 1, 17

    Google Scholar 

  • Convention on Access to Information, Public Participation in Decision-Making and Access to Justice in Environmental Matters, 2161 UNTS 447, opened for signature 25 June 1998, entered into force 30 October 2001 (‘Aarhus Convention’)

    Google Scholar 

  • Convention on Biological Diversity, 1760 UNTS 79, opened for signature 5 June 1992, entered into force 29 December 1993

    Google Scholar 

  • Te Awa Tupua (Whanganui River Claims Settlement) Act 2017 (NZ)

    Google Scholar 

  • Te Urewera Act 2014 (NZ)

    Google Scholar 

  • United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, 1771 UNTS 107, opened for signature 9 May 1992, entered into force 21 March 1994

    Google Scholar 

Cases

  • Ashgar Leghari v. Federation of Pakistan (W.P. No. 25501/2015)

    Google Scholar 

  • Budayeva and others v Russia (European Court of Human Rights, Application Nos 15339/02, 21166/02, 20058/02, 11673/02 and 15343/02, 20 March 2008)

    Google Scholar 

  • Human Rights Committee, Communication No 67/1980, UN Doc CCPR.C/17/D/67/1980 (27 October 1982) 20 (‘Port Hope Environmental Group v Canada’)

    Google Scholar 

  • Kelsey Cascade Rose Juliana et al v United States of America, Case No. 6:15-cv-01517-TC (D. Or. 10 Nov 2016)

    Google Scholar 

  • Lopez-Ostra v Spain (1994) 303-C Eur Court HR (ser A)

    Google Scholar 

  • Oneryildiz v Turkey [2004] XII Eur Court HR 657

    Google Scholar 

  • Social and Economic Rights Action Center and the Center for Economic and Social Rights v Nigeria, Communication No 155/96 (2002) (Ogoniland Decision)

    Google Scholar 

  • Tatar v Romania (European Court of Human Rights, Application no 67021/01, 27 January 2009)

    Google Scholar 

  • Urgenda Foundation v The State of the Netherlands, C/09/456689/HA ZA 13-1396 (24 June 2015) Hague District Court

    Google Scholar 

  • Yakye Axa Indigenous Community v Paraguay (Merits, Reparations and Costs) (2005) IACHR (Ser C) No 125, [168]

    Google Scholar 

  • Watt-Cloutier S (2005) Petition to the Inter American Commission on Human Rights Seeking Relief from Violations Resulting from Global Warming Caused by Acts and Omissions of the United States, 7 December 2005. http://www.inuitcircumpolar.com/files/uploads/icc-files/FINALPetitionICC.pdf

International Documents

  • Knox J (2018) Report of the Special Rapporteur on the Issue of Human Rights Obligations Relating to the Enjoyment of a Safe, Clean, Healthy and Sustainable Environment, Report to the Human Rights Council (Advance Edited Version) 37th session, agenda item 3, UN Doc A/HRC/37/59 (24 January 2018)

    Google Scholar 

  • Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (2009) Report of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights on the Relationship between climate change and human rights, 10th session, agenda item 2, UN Doc A/HRC/10/61 (15 January 2009)

    Google Scholar 

  • United Nations Environment Programme, Rio Declaration on Environment and Development, Rio de Janeiro, UN Doc A/Conf.151/26 (14 June 1992)

    Google Scholar 

Articles and Books

  • Adelman S (2015) Epistemologies of mastery. In: Grear A, Kotze LJ (eds) Research handbook on human rights and the environment. Edward Elgar, Cheltenham, pp 9–27

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Alexander L et al (2013) Climate change 2013: the physical science basis (contribution of Working Group 1). In: Intergovernmental panel on climate change, fifth assessment report, summary for policy makers

    Google Scholar 

  • Anton D, Shelton D (2011) Environmental protection and human rights. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Bell D (2013) Climate change and human rights. Wiley Interdiscip Rev Clim Chang 4(3):159

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bernstein L et al (2007) Climate change 2007: synthesis report (contribution of Working Groups I, II and III). In: Intergovernmental panel on climate change, fourth assessment report

    Google Scholar 

  • Birnie P et al (2009) International law and the environment, 3rd edn. Oxford University Press, Oxford

    Google Scholar 

  • Boyle A (1996) The Role of International Human Rights Law in the Protection of the Environment. In: Boyle A, Anderson M (eds) Human Rights Approaches to Environmental Protection. Clarendon, Oxford, p 43

    Google Scholar 

  • Boyle A (2012) Human rights and the environment: where next? Eur J Int Law 23(3):613

    Google Scholar 

  • Burdon P (2010) Wild Law: The Philosophy of Earth Jurisprudence. Alternative Law Journal 35(2):62

    Google Scholar 

  • Cameron E (2010) Human rights and climate change: moving from an intrinsic to an instrumental approach. Ga J Int Comp Law 38(3):673

    Google Scholar 

  • Caney S (2009) Human rights, responsibilities and climate change. In: Beitz C, Goodin R (eds) Global basic rights. Oxford University Press, Oxford, p 227

    Google Scholar 

  • Cullet P (1995) Definition of an environmental right in a human rights context. Neth Q Hum Rights 13:13

    Google Scholar 

  • Cullinan C (2011) Wild Law: A Manifesto for Earth Justice. Chelsea Green, 2nd ed, Totnes

    Google Scholar 

  • Crowd Justice (2017) Children v Governments of Europe and climate change. https://www.crowdjustice.com/case/climate-change-echr/

  • Doelle M (2004) Climate change and human rights: the role of International Human Rights in motivating states to take climate change seriously. Macquarie J Int Comp Environ Law 1:179

    Google Scholar 

  • Downs J (1993) A healthy and ecologically balanced environment: an argument for a third generation right. Duke J Comp Int Law 3:351

    Google Scholar 

  • Gearty C (2010) Do human rights help or hinder environmental protection? J Hum Rights Environ 1(1):7

    Google Scholar 

  • Grear A, Kotzé L J (eds) (2015) Research Handbook on Human Rights and the Environment. Edward Elgar Publishing, Cheltenham

    Google Scholar 

  • Handl G (1992) Human rights and protection of the environment: a mildly ‘Revisionist’ view. In: Trindade A (ed) Human rights, sustainable development and the environment. Inter-American Institute of Human Rights, San Jose, p 117

    Google Scholar 

  • Handl G (2001) Human rights and the protection of the environment. In: Eide A et al (eds) Economic, social and cultural rights. Martinus Nijhoff, Leiden, p 303

    Google Scholar 

  • Hill BE et al (2004) Human rights and the environment: a synopsis and some predictions. Georget Int Environ Law Rev 16(3):359

    Google Scholar 

  • Humphreys S (ed) (2010) Human rights and climate change. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge

    Google Scholar 

  • Iorns Magallanes CJ (2012) The Whanganui River as a legal person: implications for property and environmental law, world indigenous lawyers conference, Hamilton, Sept 2012

    Google Scholar 

  • Iorns Magallanes CJ (2015a) Nature as an ancestor: two examples of legal personality for nature in New Zealand. VertigO - la revue électronique en sciences de l’environnement. https://doi.org/10.4000/vertigo.16199

  • Iorns Magallanes CJ (2015b) Reflecting on cosmology and environmental protection: Maori cultural rights in Aotearoa New Zealand. In: Grear A, Kotzé LJ (eds) Research handbook on human rights and the environment. Edward Elgar Publishing, Cheltenham, pp 274–308

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Kiss A, Shelton D (2007) Guide to international environmental law. Martinus Nijhoff, Leiden

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Knox J (2009–2010) Climate change and human rights law. Va J Int Law 50:163

    Google Scholar 

  • Lewis B (2010) The role of human rights in environmental governance: the challenge of climate change. In: Techera E (ed) Environmental ethics and legal governance. Inter-Disciplinary Press, Freeland, p 93

    Google Scholar 

  • Lewis B (2016) Balancing human rights in climate policies. In: Quirico O, Boumghar M (eds) Climate change and human rights: an international law perspective. Routledge, London, p 39

    Google Scholar 

  • Lewis B (2018) Human rights in the Paris agreement. Trans Environ Law 7(1):69

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Limon M (2009) Human rights and climate change: constructing a case for political action. Harv Environ Law Rev 33:439

    Google Scholar 

  • McAdam J, Saul B (2010) An insecure climate for human security? Climate-induced displacement and international law. University of New South Wales Faculty of Law Research Series 59

    Google Scholar 

  • Merrills JG (1996) Environmental protection and human rights: conceptual aspects. In: Boyle A, Anderson M (eds) Human rights approaches to environmental protection. Clarendon, Oxford, p 25

    Google Scholar 

  • O’Gorman R (2017) Environmental constitutionalism: a comparative study. Trans Environ Law 6(3):435

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Parry ML et al (2007) Climate change 2007: impacts, adaptation and vulnerability’ (contribution of Working Group II). In: Intergovernmental panel on climate change, fourth assessment report

    Google Scholar 

  • Pedersen O (2010) Climate change and human rights: amicable or arrested development? J Hum Rights Environ 1(2):236

    Google Scholar 

  • Peel J, Osofsky H (2018) A rights turn in climate litigation? Trans Environ Law 7(1):37

    Google Scholar 

  • Pevato P (1999) A right to environment in international law: current status and future prospects. Rev Eur Comp Int Environ Law 8(3):309

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rodriguez-Rivera LE (2001) Is the human right to environment recognised under international law? It depends on the source. Colo J Int Environ Law Policy 12:1

    Google Scholar 

  • Rolnik R (2009) Human Rights Council Special Rapporteur on adequate housing, comments to Human Rights Council Panel discussion on the relationship between climate change and human rights, Geneva, Switzerland, 15 June 2009, summary of discussions

    Google Scholar 

  • Schmidhuber J, Tubiello FN (2007) Global food security under climate change. Proc Natl Acad Sci 104(50):19703

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Shelton D (1991–1992) Human rights, environmental rights, and the right to environment. Stanf J of Int Law 28:103

    Google Scholar 

  • Stephens P (2010) Applying human rights norms to climate change: the elusive remedy. Colo J Int Environ Law Policy 21:49

    Google Scholar 

  • Stone C (1972) Should trees have standing. South Calif Law Rev 45:450

    Google Scholar 

  • Symonides J (1992) The human right to a clean, balanced and protected environment. Int J Legal Inf 20:24

    Google Scholar 

  • Weston B H, Bollier D (2013) Toward a recalibrated human right to a clean and healthy environment: making the conceptual transition. Journal of Human Rights and the Environment 4(2):116

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Law, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, Australia

    Bridget Lewis

Authors
  1. Bridget Lewis
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Bridget Lewis .

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2018 Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd.

About this chapter

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this chapter

Lewis, B. (2018). Introduction to Environmental Human Rights and Climate Change. In: Environmental Human Rights and Climate Change. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-13-1960-0_1

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-13-1960-0_1

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Singapore

  • Print ISBN: 978-981-13-1959-4

  • Online ISBN: 978-981-13-1960-0

  • eBook Packages: Law and CriminologyLaw and Criminology (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation