Human rights and the environment have become increasingly interconnected. This updated manual seeks to contribute to a better understanding of this relationship by taking into account the new pertinent case law of the European Court of Human Rights. While the European Convention on Human Rights does not guarantee a specific right to a healthy and sound environment, the general standards deriving from it may nonetheless also apply to environmental matters. The European Court of Human Rights regularly examines complaints in which individuals argue that a breach of their Convention rights is the result of adverse environmental factors.This manual also takes account of the relevant decisions of the European Committee of Social Rights which has interpreted the right to protection of health under the European Social Charter as including a right to a healthy environment.Examples of good national practices have been compiled on the basis of the contributions of several member states and included in an appendix to the manual.The aim is to present the emerging principles on environmental protection in a systematic and accessible way.
Abbreviations
Preliminary remarks
Introduction
PART I: Executive summary
Section A - Principles derived from the European Convention on Human Rights
Section B - Principles derived from the European Social Charter and the revised European Social Charter
PART II: Environmental protection principles
Section A - Principles derived from the European Convention on Human Rights
Chapter I: Right to life and the environment
Chapter II: Respect for private and family life as well as well as the home and the environment
Chapter III: Protection of property and the environment
Chapter IV: Information and communication on environmental matters
Chapter V: Decision-making processes in environmental matters and public participation in them
Chapter VI: Access to justice and other remedies in environmental matters
Chapter VII: Principles from the Court's case-law: territorial scope of the Convention's application
Section B - Principles derived from the European Social Charter and the revised European Social Charter
Chapter I: Right to protection of health and the environment
Appendices to the Manual
Human rights and the environment have become increasingly interconnected. This updated manual seeks to contribute to a better understanding of this relationship by taking into account the new pertinent case law of the European Court of Human Rights. While the European Convention on Human Rights does not guarantee a specific right to a healthy and sound environment, the general standards deriving from it may nonetheless also apply to environmental matters. The European Court of Human Rights regularly examines complaints in which individuals argue that a breach of their Convention rights is the result of adverse environmental factors.This manual also takes account of the relevant decisions of the European Committee of Social Rights which has interpreted the right to protection of health under the European Social Charter as including a right to a healthy environment.Examples of good national practices have been compiled on the basis of the contributions of several member states and included in an appendix to the manual.The aim is to present the emerging principles on environmental protection in a systematic and accessible way.
