Environment and Human Rights (CDDH-ENV)
The interconnection between the protection of human rights and environment is fostered through the obligations of the member States under the European Convention on Human Rights and the European Social Charter, the steady development of the case-law by the European Court of Human Rights and of the conclusions and decisions of the European Committee of Social Rights as well as the increasing number of cases before national courts. Bearing this in mind, the Steering Committee for Human Rights (CDDH) has published an updated version of its Manual on Human Rights and the Environment as a 3rd edition and is currently preparing a draft non-binding instrument in this field, to be transmitted to the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe by the end of 2022. This work is entrusted with the CDDH Drafting Group on Human Rights and Environment (CDDH-ENV).
At it 1444th meeting, on 27 September 2022, the Committe of Ministers adopted the Recommendation CM/Rec(2022)20 to member States on human rights and the protection of the environment
Meetings and Events
1st meeting, 28-30 April 2021
Meeting report
Addendum to the Meeting report - Draft Manual on Human Rights and the Environment 3rd edition "Principles emerging from the case-law of the European Court of Human Rights and from the conclusions and decisions of the European Committee on Social Rights"
Workshop on Environment, Human Rights and Business, 27 April 2021
Programme 
Video
2nd meeting, 3-5 November 2021
Addendum to the meeting report: Preliminary draft recommendation on human rights and the protection of the environment
3rd meeting, 26-28 January 2022
4th meeting, 6-8 April 2022
- Meeting report
- Addendum to the meeting report : Draft recommendation on human rights and the protection of the environment
5th meeting, 13-15 September 2022
Exchange of views with independent experts and representatives from the Parliamentary Assembly and the European Committee of Social Rights
PRESENTATIONS BY THE EXPERTS:
- Prof. John KNOX, Former UN Special Rapporteur on the issue of human rights obligations relating to the enjoyment of a safe, clean, healthy and sustainable environment, Henry C. Lauerman Professor of International Law, Wake Forest University School of Law, USA
- Mr Sébastien DUYCK, Senior Attorney, Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL), Campaign Manager Human Rights & Climate, Climate & Energy Program, Geneva
- Dr Lea RAIBLE, Lecturer in Public Law at the University of Glasgow
- Prof. Helen KELLER, Former Judge at the European Court of Human Rights, Chair for Public Law and European and Public International Law, University of Zürich
- Prof. Elisabeth LAMBERT, Director of Research at the National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS), Faculty of Law, University of Strasbourg
- Mr Simon MOUTQUIN, Rapporteur of the report on “Anchoring the right to a healthy environment: need for enhanced action by the Council of Europe”, Member of the Parliamentary Assembly Committee on Social Affairs, Health and Sustainable Development, Member of the Chamber of Representatives, Belgium
- Prof. Giuseppe PALMISANO, Former President of the European Committee of Social Rights, Department of Law, Roma Tre University, Italy
Chairperson
Ms Kristine Licis (Latvia)
Publications
MANUAL ON HUMAN RIGHTS AND THE ENVIRONMENT (3rd edition)
This updated manual seeks to contribute to a better understanding of the relationship existing between human rights and the environment, as expressed through the European Convention on Human Rights and the European Social Charter by examining how these instruments contribute to the strengthening of environmental protection at national level.
Proceedings of the High-level Conference "Environmental Protection and Human Rights" on 27 February 2020 with the Manual on Human Rights and the Environment (2nd edition/2012)
Council of Europe webpage "Protecting the environment using human rights law"
