International Environmental Law and Human Rights: Role of European Court - Presentation

This presentation discusses the relation between human rights and environment protection, the role of the European court in the implication of human right provisions in protecting the environment, and case laws in International Environmental Law. It emphasizes the interrelatedness of environmental preservation and human rights and how the European Court has acted as a preservator of the environment. The presentation concludes that the environment can be efficiently conserved through human rights.

International Environmental
Law - Presentation

Table of Content
 Introduction
 Relation between human rights and environment protection
 Role of the European court in the implication of human right provisions in protecting the environment
 Case laws
 Conclusion
 References

INTRODUCTION
International environmental law is a part of International
Law which is related to the concern of conservation of
the environment mainly through the mutual agreements
which are formed among different countries. As it is
important to think about the protection of the
environment, these agreements which are formed under
various treaties or conventions acts as the regulatory
authority over the member countries who have done the
ratification of the treaties formed by the United Nations

Relation between human rights and environment
protection
Environmental preservation and human rights goes parallel to each other. They are correlated with each other and
reciprocally receptive as both of them are concerned with the welfare of the human race. Living in a safe and healthy
environment is a pre- requisite of the foundation of human rights. Many organizations do not agree with the
interrelatedness of these two aspects. It could be seen that the environmental disturbances are the results of human
oriented activities such as exploitation of natural resources, establishing number of industries, urbanization, increase
of population, global warming, ozone diminution, etc.

Role of the European court in the implication of
human right provisions
In context to the judicature of the European Courts, environment protection was not at their priority. Their utmost
objective was the formation of the European Court of Human Rights(ECHR). In-spite of that, the court has reacted
positively to the concern of protection of the environment. It could be said. that the European court acts as a
preservator of the environment because it addresses certain rights such as, right to approach to environmental justice,
right to healthy and safe environment, right to information and involvement in environment related matters.

Case Laws
The European Convention on Human rights has recognized the environmental protection by imbibing the right to live in a
healthy environment(Article 8 of the convention) as a matter of importance
 Arrondelle vs. England(1980),
 Baggs vs. England(1985)
 Powell and Rayner vs. England
 Lopez – Ostra vs. Spain(1994)
 Tatar vs. Romania
 Okyay vs. Turkey

CONCLUSION
The following PPT concludes that the environment can be efficiently conserved through human rights. The
European Court determined the same in its contentions. Environmental protection and human rights are interrelated
and both goes hand in hand. Right to live with dignity includes right to safe and healthy environment. Mere animal
existence does not comprises right to life because it also demands a dignified and respectful livelihood.

REFERENCES
 'International Environmental Law' (obo, 2022) <https://www.oxfordbibliographies.com/view/document/obo-
9780199796953/obo-9780199796953-0052.xml> accessed 12 April 2022
 (Home.iitk.ac.in, 2022) <http://home.iitk.ac.in/~anubha/H18.pdf> accessed 12 April 2022
 Harrison J, 'Book Review: The Transformation Of International Environmental Law' (2019) 13 Environmental
Law Review
 Harrison J, 'Significant International Environmental Law Cases: 2014–15' [2019] Journal of Environmental
Law