The current status of the right to the environment in the global international law

• Authors: Vivien Köböl-Benda

Title variants

PL

Obecny status prawa do środowiska w światowym prawie międzynarodowym

Abstracts

PL

Artykuł skupia się na prawie do zdrowego środowiska, które stało się wyzwaniem dla prawa międzynarodowego, gdyż dopiero niedawno kwestia ta została jednoznacznie podjęta na poziomie globalnym. Instrumenty związane z prawami człowieka, jakie posiada ONZ, nie zawierają postanowień dotyczących środowiska. Jednakże podejście do „zazielenienia” istniejących praw człowieka można zaobserwować w kilku formach, takich jak ogólne komentarze. Międzynarodowe prawo środowiskowe wprowadziło podobną ideę „podejścia praw człowieka”, które łączy kwestie środowiskowe z prawami człowieka. Zakładamy, że te dwa pojęcia ułatwią wypracowanie deklaracji o prawie do zdrowego środowiska. Zarazem jednak skuteczności tych idei nie można porównywać z formalnie przyjętym prawem do zdrowego środowiska. Stawiamy tezę, że uznanie na poziomie światowym prawa do zdrowego środowiska mogłoby połączyć te dwie gałęzie prawa międzynarodowego oraz złagodzić jego fragmentację. Artykuł ma na celu zbadać i ocenić istniejące prawne zaplecze na poziomach regionalnym i globalnym. Działając w tym kierunku, przeanalizujemy prawnie obowiązujące i miękkie instrumenty prawa oraz właściwe orzecznictwo w obszarach praw człowieka na poziomie prawa międzynarodowego i międzynarodowego prawa środowiskowego. Artykuł podkreśla ostatnie dokonania w sferze prawnej, w ślad za przyjęciem w roku 2021 Rezolucji nr 48/13 przez Komitet Praw Człowieka ONZ. Promuje ona prawo do czystego, zdrowego oraz zrównoważonego środowiska. W artykule proponuje się również sugestie co do opracowania tego prawa na poziomie światowym. Zarazem jednak analiza ujawniła, że międzynarodowe prawo posiada już kilka instrumentów i pojęć, które można uważać za punkt wyjścia dla ww. deklaracji. Jednakże proponujemy, aby nowe innowacyjne podejścia zostały wyrażone w przyszłości, w powiązaniu z prawem do zdrowego środowiska.

EN

This article focuses on the right to a healthy environment, which is a challenging aspect of international law because, until recently, it was not explicitly addressed at the global level. The United Nations’ human rights instruments do not contain provisions related to the environment. However, the approach of “greening” the existing human rights can be observed in several forms, such as general comments. International environmental law introduced a similar concept, the “human rights approach”, which connects environmental issues with human rights. We assume that these two concepts are likely to facilitate the declaration of the right to a healthy environment; however, their effect cannot be compared to the formally adopted right to a healthy environment. We argue that the global recognition of the right to a healthy environment could connect the two branches of international law and ease its fragmentation. This article aims to examine and evaluate the existing international legal background at the global and regional levels. While doing so, we will analyze the legally binding and soft law instruments and the relevant case law of international human rights law and international environmental law. The article emphasizes the recent legal development, as the United Nations Human Rights Committee adopted Resolution no. 48/13 in 2021, which promotes the right to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment. Here, we also present suggestions for the further global elaboration of the right. On the one hand, the examination reveals that international law already has several instruments and concepts that can be considered a starting point for the declaration. On the other hand, we propose that innovative new approaches should be expressed in the future, related to the right to a healthy environment.

Keywords

EN

right to a healthy environment; international human rights law; international; environmental law; United Nations; regional human rights law

PL

prawo do zdrowego środowiska; prawa człowieka na poziomie prawa międzynarodowego; międzynarodowe prawo środowiskowe; ONZ; prawa człowieka na poziomie prawa regionalnego

• Publisher: Uniwersytet Opolski
• Journal: Opolskie Studia Administracyjno-Prawne
• Year: 2022
• Issue: 1
• Pages: 117-143

Dates

published

2022

Contributors

author

Vivien Köböl-Benda

• https://orcid.org/0000000206259326

References

• Additional Protocol to the American Convention on Human Rights in the Area of Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. Protocol of San Salvador. Signed at San Salvador, El Salvador, on November 17, 1988. OAS. Official records; OEA6Ser.A/44, Treaty Series no. 69.
• African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, adopted 27 June 1981, OAU Doc. CAB/LEG/67/3 rev. 5, 21 I.L.M. 58 (1982), entered into force on 21 October 1986.
• American Convention on Human Rights, adopted at the Inter-American Specialized Conference on Human Rights, San José, Costa Rica, 22 November 1969.
• Arab Charter on Human Rights 2004. 2006.Translated to English: Al-Midani, Mohammed Amin-Cabanettes, Mathilde. Boston University International Law Journal, 24 (2).
• Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms. Opened at Roma, 4. November 1950. European Treaty Series, No. 005.
• Convention on Access to Information, Public Participation in Decision-Making and Access to Justice in Environmental Matters. Open for signature at Aarhus, Denmark, on 25 June 1998, United Nations Treaty Series, vol. 2161, p. 447.
• Decision (EU) 2022/591 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 6 April 2022 on a General Union Environmental Action Programme to 2030. PE/83/2021/REV/1. OJ L 114, 12.4.2022, p. 22–36
• International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, 16 December 1966, United Nations Treaty Series, vol. 999, p. 171.
• International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, 16 December 1966, United Nations Treaty Series, vol. 993, p. 3.
• Paris Agreement, 12 December 2015. United Nations Treaty Series, vol. 3156.
• ASEAN Human Rights Declaration. Adopted 19 November 2012 in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
• Brundtland report – Report of the World Commission on Environment and Development: Our Common Future. 1987.
• CCPR General Comment No. 6: Article 6 (Right to Life). Adopted at the Sixteenth Session of the Human Rights Committee on 30 April 1982.
• CESCR General Comment No. 14: The Right to the Highest Attainable Standard of Health (Art. 12) Adopted at the Twenty-second Session of the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, on 11 August 2000 (Contained in Document E/C.12/2000/4) 1. Normative content of article 12, p. 4.
• CESCR General Comment No. 15 (2002) on the right to water. A/RES/64/292.
• Charter of the United Nations, 24 October 1945, 1 UNTS XVI.
• Declaration of the United Nations Conference on the Human Environment. In.: A/CONF.48/14/Rev.1. Chapter I. 3–6.
• Follow-up to the report of the ad hoc open-ended working group established pursuant to General Assembly resolution 72/277. Resolution adopted by the General Assembly on 30 August 2019. A/RES/73/33.
• Human rights and access to safe drinking water and sanitation. Resolution adopted by the United Nations Human Rights Council on 28 March 2008. Resolution 7/22.
• Human rights and access to safe drinking water and sanitation. Resolution adopted by the United Nations Human Rights Council on 12 October 2009. A/HRC/RES/12/8.
• Issue of human rights obligations relating to the enjoyment of a safe, clean, healthy and sustainable environment. Report of the Special Rapporteur. 8 January 2019. A/HRC/40/55.
• Johannesburg Declaration on Sustainable Development. Adopted at the World Summit on Sustainable Development, Johannesburg, South Africa, 26 August – 4 September 2002. A/RES/69/2016.
• Joint statement of United Nations entities on the right to healthy environment. https://www.unep.org/news-and-stories/statements/joint-statement-united-nations-entitiesright-healthy-environment
• Knox, John H. 2012. Report of the Independent Expert on the issue of human rights obligations relating to the enjoyment of a safe, clean, healthy and sustainable environment. Preliminary report. 24 December, 2012. A/HRC/22/43. 13–14.
• Le Club des Juristes. Draft Project – Global Pact for the Environment. Launched at the Sorbonne, Paris, 24 June 2017.
• Mandate of the Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of human rights in the context of climate change. Resolution adopted by the Human Rights Council on 8 October 2021. A/HRC/RES/48/14.
• Recommendation 1614 (2003). Environment and Human Rights. Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly. Adopted by the Assembly on 27 June 2003.
• Recommendation 1862 (2009). Environmentally included migration and displacement: a 21st-century challenge. Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly. Adopted by the Assembly on 30 January 2009.
• Reply from the Committee of Ministers to the Parliamentary Assembly’s Recommendation 1614 (2003) on Environment and human rights. Council of Europe Committee of Ministers. Adopted at the 869th meeting of the Ministers’ Deputies, 21 January 2004.
• Reply from the Committee of Ministers to the Parliamentary Assembly’s Recommendation 1862 (2009) on Environmentally included migration and displacement: a 21st century challenge. Council of Europe Committee of Ministers. Adopted at the 1063 meeting of the Ministers’ Deputies, 17 July 2009.
• Report of the ad hoc open-ended working group established pursuant to General Assembly resolution 72/277. Third substantive session, 13 June 2019. A/AC.289/6/Rev.1
• Resolution 2395 (2021). Anchoring the right to a healthy environment: need for enhanced action by the Council of Europe. Council of Europe, Parliamentary Assembly. Adopted on 29 September 2021.
• Rio Declaration on Environment and Development. The United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, Having met at Rio de Janeiro from 3 to 14 June 1992. In: Report of the United Nations’ Conference on Environment and Development. A/CONF.151/26/Rev.1. (Vol. I.). 3-9.
• The future we want. Resolution adopted by the United Nations General Assembly on 27 July 2012. A/RES/66/288*.
• The human right to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment. Resolution adopted by the Human Rights Council on 8 October 2021. A/HRC/RES/48/13.
• The human right to water and sanitation. Resolution adopted by the General Assembly on 28 July 2010. A/RES/64/292
• Third party intervention by the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, application No. 39371/20 Cláudia Duarte Agosthino and others v. Portugal and 32 other States.
• Towards a Global Pact for the Environment. Resolution adopted by the United Nations General Assembly on 10 May 2018. A/RES/72/277.
• Transforming our World: The 230 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Resolution adopted by the United Nations General Assembly on 25 September 2015. A/RES/70/1.
• UN Secretary-General: Gaps in international environmental law and environment-related instruments towards a global pact for the environment. 3 November 2018. A/73/419*.
• United Nations’ Millennium Daclaration. Resolution adopted by the United Nations General Assembly on 8 September 2000. A/RES/55/2.
• Universal Declaration of Human Rights, 10 December 1948, 217 A(III)
• Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action. World conference on Human Rights, Vienna 14-25 June 1993. A/CONF.157/23
• EHP (on behalf of Port Hope Environmental Group and Present and future citizens of Port Hope, Ontario, Canada) v. Canada, United Nations Human Rights Committee, 27 October 1982, Communication no. 67/1980, UN Doc CCPR/C/17/D/67/1980.
• Social and Economic Rights Action Center (SERAC) and Center for Economic and Social Rights (CESR) / Nigeria. African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Right, 27 October 2001, Communication no. 155/96. Banjul, p. 50–54
• Centre for Minority Rights Development (Kenya) and Minority Rights Group International on behalf of Endorois Welfare Council v Kenya. African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Right, 11-25 November 2009, Communication no. 276 / 2003, Banjul, p. 228, 245.
• African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights v. Republic of Kenya, African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights, 26 May 2017, Application No. 006/2012.
• Advisory opinion requested by the Republic of Columbia, The environment and human rights, Inter-American Court of Human Rights, 15 November 2017, OC-23/17 15, p. 60.
• Case of the Indigenous Communities of the Lhaka Honhat (Our Land) Association v. Argentina, Inter-American Court of Human Rights, 6 February 2020, Series C No. 420, p. 202.
• Case of López Ostra v. Spain, European Court of Human Rights, 9 December 1994, no. 16798/90, Strasbourg p. 8.
• Guerra and others v. Italy, European Court of Human Rights, 19 February 1998, no. 116/1996/735/932, Strasbourg, p. 56–60 .
• Moreno Gómez v. Spain, European Court of Human Rights, 16 November 2004, no. 4143/02, Strasbourg, p. 53.
• Fadeyeva v. Russia, European Court of Human Rights, 9 June 2005, no 55723/00, Strasbourg, p. 66–70.
• Taşkin and others v. Turkey, European Court of Human Rights, 30 March 2005, no. 46117/99, Strasbourg, p. 98–100.
• Hatton and others v. the United Kingdom, European Court of Human Rights, 8 July 2003, Strasbourg, no. 36022/97, p. 85–86.
• Tyrer v. The United Kingdom, European Court of Human Rights, 25 April 1978, no. 5856/72.
• Handyside v. The united kingdom, European Court of Human Rights, 7 December 1976, No. 5493/72.
• Request of Cláuda Duarte Agosthino and others against Portugal and 33 other States, European Court of Human Rights, 7 September 2020, No. 39371/20.
• Abbot, Kenneth W. and Snidal, Duncan. 2003. Hard and Soft Law in International Governance. International Organization. 54(3): 434–450. DOI:10.1162/002081800551280.
• Atapattu, Sumudu. 2002. The Right to a Healthy Life or the Right to Die Polluted: The Emergence of a Human Right to a Healthy Environment under International Law. Tulane Environmental Law Journal 16(1): 111–112.
• Atapattu, Sumudu. 2019. Environmental Rights and International Human Rights Covenants: What Standards Are Relevant? In: Environmental Rights – The Development of Standards, (eds.) Stephen J. Turner, Dinah L. Shelton, Jona Razzaque, Owen McIntyre, James R. May. 21–24. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
• Bándi, Gyula. 2021. Az Emberi Jogok Európai Egyezménye, a Szociális Karta és a környezeti jogok. Acta Humana – Emberi Jogi Közlemények 9(2): 188. DOI: 10.32566/ah.2021.2.8.
• Boyd, David E. 2018. Catalyst for Change – Evaluating Forty Years of Experience. In: Implementing the Right to a Healthy Environment, (eds.) Knox, John H. and Pejan, Ramin. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. 17–18. 23–25.
• Brown Weiss, Edith. 1993. International Environmental Law: Contemporary Issues and the Emergence of a New World Order. Georgetown University Law Center 81: 688–690, 708.
• Brunnée, Jutta. 2008. The Stockholm Declaration and the Structure and Processes of International Environmental Law. In: The Future of Ocean Regime Building: Essays in Tribute to Douglas M. Johnston, (eds.) Aldo Chircop, Ted McDorman. Kluwer Law, 12.
• Cima, Elena. 2022. The right to a healthy environment: Reconceptualizing human rights in the face of climate change. Review of European. Comparative & International Law 31(1): 48. DOI:10.1111/reel.12430CIMA49.
• Dzehtsiarou, Kanstantsin. 2011. European Consensus and the Evolutive Interpretation of the European Convention on Human Rights. German Law Journal 12: 1731–1734. Available at: https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=1951371.
• Feria-Tinta, Monica and Milnes, Simon C. 2019. International Environmental Law for the 21st Century: The Constitutionalization of the Right to a Healthy Environment in the Inter-American Court of Human Rights Advisory Opinion. 23. ACDI – Anuario Colombiano de Derecho Internacional (Colombian Yearbook of International Law) 12: 74–77.
• Kiss, Alexandre and Shelton, Dinah. 1991. International environmental law. Transnational Publishers, Inc. 21–31.
• Marinkás, György. 2014. Az Endorois ügy, egy hosszú út eredménye – avagy az afrikai emberi jogvédelmi mechanizmus joggyakorlata és az: őslakos népek jogainak védelme. Debreceni Jogi Műhely 12: 1–2. Available at: https://deenkdev.lib.unideb.hu/ojs/DJM/article/view/6617. DOI: 10.24169/DJM/2014/1-2/10.
• Nwobike, Justice C. 2005. The African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights and the Demystification of Second and Third Generation Rights under the African Charter: Social and Economic Rights Action Center (SERAC) and the Center for Economic and Social Rights (CESR) v. Nigeria. African Journal of Legal Studies 2: 145–146. DOI: 10.1163/221097312X13397499736101.
• Orellana, Marcos. 2018. Quality Control of the Right to a Healthy Environment. In: The Global Right to a Healthy Environment, (eds.) Knox, John H. and Pejan, Ramin. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. 184–187.
• Perruso, Camila. 2021. L’affirmation d’un droit à un environnement propre, sain et durable universel. Notes sur la Résolution 48/13 du Conseil des droits de l’Homme des Nations Unies. La Revue des droits de l’homme. Available online: 15 November 2021. http://journals.openedition.org/revdh/13063. DOI: 10.4000/revdh.13063.
• Ruiz-Chiriboga, Oswaldo R. 2011. The American Convention and the Protocol of San Salvador: Two Intertwined Treaties. Non-Enforceability of Economic, Social and Cultural Rights in the Inter-American System. Netherlands Quarterly of Human Rights 31(2): 168–170. DOI: 10.1177/016934411303100203.
• Sohn, Lous B. 1973. The Stockholm Declaration on the Human Environment. Harvard International Law Journal 14(3): 452–453.
• Vasak, Karel. 1977. A 30-year struggle; the sustained efforts to give force of law to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The UNESCO Courier: a window open on the world 30(1): 29.
• Vibhute, Khushal, Aynalem, Filipos. 2009. Legal Research Methods. Addis Abeba: Justice and Legal System Research Institute 15–18. Available at: https://chilot.files.wordpress.com/2011/06/legal-research-methods.pdf.
• Voeten, Erik. 2017. Competition and Complementarity between Global and Regional Human Rights Institutions. Global Policy 8(1): 119–121. DOI: 10.1111/1758-5899.12395.
• Whelan, Daniel J. 2010. Indivisible Human Rights – A History. University of Pennsylvania Press. 3–6.
• Wolfe, Karrie. 2003. Greening the International Human Rights Sphere – Environmental Rights and the Draft Declaration of Principles on Human Rights and the Environment. Review of Current Law and Law Reform 9: 58.
• Zang, Sheryl M. Benjenk, Ivy. Breakey, Suellen. Pusey-Reid, Eleonor and Nicholas, Patrice K. 2020. The intersection of climate change with the era of COVID-19. Public Health Nursing 38: 331. DOI: 10.1111/phn.12866.

Identifiers

DOI

10.25167/osap.4770

Biblioteka Nauki

2147405