Transformative Capacity Building Around the Right to A Healthy Environment: What Role for 'Dignity' as a Human Rights Value?

Authors

  • Elaine Webster
  • Elisa Morgera

Abstract

For decades, scholars have explored the potential merits and risks of a formal, self-standing human right to a healthy environment. While some have advocated this right in a way that may be perceived as too ‘thin’ to connect to local experiences, others have critiqued it in a way that may be perceived as too disconnected from the benefits of human rights processes. This article discusses ongoing experiences in Scotland, where a new national human rights framework is being developed. Drawing on this experience, we highlight methods of capacity building as a different channel for thinking about the potential merits of new articulations of a right to a healthy environment, and for developing understandings of this right’s substance applied to specific contexts. Specifically, we reflect on the potential role of the foundational human rights value of respect for dignity as an anchor in capacity building around the right to a healthy environment. We explore an idea of capacity building which facilitates local-level ownership over international human rights law and underpinning values and is focused on implementation. We suggest that this kind of ethos as part of mutual learning and alliance building should be further explored as a means of creating lasting, positive engagement with a rights-based perspective on environmental protection.

References

A Articles/Books/Reports

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Eduardo S Brondizio et al (eds), Global assessment report on biodiversity and ecosystem services of the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES secretariat: Bonn, 2019)

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B Cases

European Court of Human Rights, Bouyid v Belgium App. No. 23380/09 (28 September 2015)

C Legislation

Climate Change (Emissions Reduction Targets) (Scotland) Act 2019

Climate Change (Scotland) Act 2009

UK Withdrawal from the European Union (Continuity) (Scotland) Act 2021

United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (Incorporation) (Scotland) Bill

D Treaties

United Nations, Charter of the United Nations, No 1 UNTS XVI (24 October 1945)

United Nations General Assembly, Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Resolution 217 A (III), 10 December 1948)

United Nations General Assembly, International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, United Nations Treaty Series vol. 999 (16 December 1966)

United Nations General Assembly, International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, United Nations Treaty Series, vol. 993 (16 December 1966)

United Nations Economic Commission for Europe, Convention on Access to Information, Public Participation in Decision-Making, and Access to Justice in Environmental Matters, 2161 UNTS 447 (Aarhus Convention, 25 June 1998)

E Other

Global Pact for the Environment International Group of Experts for the Pact, Draft Global Pact for the Environment (24 June 2017)

Environmental Rights Centre for Scotland, 'Why Scotland needs a human right to a healthy environment', Environmental Rights Centre for Scotland Blog (2 February 2021)

Scottish Government, Scotland’s National Performance Framework: Our Purpose, Values and National Outcomes (2018)

Miller, Alan, 'Time for Leadership', Strathclyde Law School Blog (19 February 2020)

Morgera, Elisa and Alan Miller, 'COVID-19, Environmental Protection & Human Rights Leadership', Strathclyde Law School Blog (28 May 2020)

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Published

06.09.2021

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Articles