Human Rights for the environment
12 Months, 1 Question: December 2020
The law is one of the most important instruments at our disposal in the fight against climate change. One of the possible ways to address the issue is by using Europe’s unparalleled system for protecting human rights to help tackle environmental problems.
In December we will have a closer look to the legal actions on environmental issues that were examined by the Courts around the globe and discuss how law can oblige governments, public and private sectors to make sufficient steps towards carbon reduction, renewable energy, reforestation and other steps that are necessary for greener future.
Teaser of December 2020
Cartoon of the Month
December's Forum talk
Monday, 14 December 2020 at 14:30 – 16:00 (CET)
Bringing climate justice to life: Cases from Australia, Portugal, France and Norway
The Forum Talk will bring together citizens, organisations and environmental advocacy groups to discuss challenging environmental policies (or lack thereof) of governments in court.
The general discussion on resorting to strategic litigation as a tool to fight climate change will be followed by concrete examples of ongoing law suits worldwide. In particular, it will focus on cases from Australia, Portugal, Norway and France where individuals or organisations brought legal complaints against governments before the courts.
Life and well-being on our planet is contingent on humanity’s collective capacity to guarantee both human rights and a healthy environment to future generations. 
Council of Europe Committee of Ministers’ declaration, 27 February 2020
- Living in a clean environment: a neglected human rights concern for all of us - Dunja Mijatović, Commissioner for Human Rights
- Environment and Human Rights, Rule of Law and Democracy: Work of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe
- Human rights and the environment, a priority for the Council of Europe - Directorate General "Human Rights and Rule of Law"
- Iceland – Opinion on four constitutional draft bills on the protection of the environment, on natural resources, on referendums and on the President of Iceland, the Government, the functions of the executive and other institutional matters - adopted by the Venice Commission at its 124th online plenary session (8-9 October 2020)
Facsheets
- Environment and the European Convention on Human Rights – past and pending cases at the ECHR
- Measures adopted and reported by States (Execution of judgments)
Declarations
- Joint Declaration on human rights and the environment by the outgoing and incoming Presidencies of the Committee of Ministers (15 May 2020)
- Final Declaration by the Georgian Presidency of the Committee of Ministers on Environmental Protection and Human Rights (27 February 2020)
Books
- Human rights and the environment – a manual
- Human rights, democracy, sustainable development and the European Landscape Convention
Leaflets
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Luisa Ragher, Head of Human Rights Division - European External Action Service
Fabiana Alves, Climate and Justice Coordinator, Greenpeace Brasil
Rik Daems, President of the Assembly of the Council of Europe
Natalia Kobylarz, European Court of Human Rights
Using human rights to fight climate change
What is the relationship between the environment and the protection of human rights under the European Convention on Human Rights?
