The Global Emergence of Constitutional Environmental Rights

The Global Emergence of Constitutional Environmental Rights

Author: Joshua C. Gellers

Publisher: Routledge

Published: 2017-05-18

Total Pages: 143

ISBN-13: 1315524392

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Over the past 40 years, countries throughout the world have similarly adopted human rights related to environmental governance and protection in national constitutions. Interestingly, these countries vary widely in terms of geography, politics, history, resources, and wealth. This raises the question: why do some countries have constitutional environmental rights while others do not? Bringing together theory from law, political science, and sociology, a global statistical analysis, and a comparative study of constitutional design in South Asia, Gellers presents a comprehensive response to this important question. Moving beyond normative debates and anecdotal developments in case law, as well as efforts to describe and categorize such rights around the world, this book provides a systematic analysis of the expansion of environmental rights using social science methods and theory. The resulting theoretical framework and empirical evidence offer new insights into how domestic and international factors interact during the constitution drafting process to produce new law that is both locally relevant and globally resonant. Scholars, practitioners, and students of law, political science, and sociology interested in understanding how institutions cope with complex problems like environmental degradation and human rights violations will find this book to be essential reading.


Book Synopsis The Global Emergence of Constitutional Environmental Rights by : Joshua C. Gellers

Download or read book The Global Emergence of Constitutional Environmental Rights written by Joshua C. Gellers and published by Routledge. This book was released on 2017-05-18 with total page 143 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Over the past 40 years, countries throughout the world have similarly adopted human rights related to environmental governance and protection in national constitutions. Interestingly, these countries vary widely in terms of geography, politics, history, resources, and wealth. This raises the question: why do some countries have constitutional environmental rights while others do not? Bringing together theory from law, political science, and sociology, a global statistical analysis, and a comparative study of constitutional design in South Asia, Gellers presents a comprehensive response to this important question. Moving beyond normative debates and anecdotal developments in case law, as well as efforts to describe and categorize such rights around the world, this book provides a systematic analysis of the expansion of environmental rights using social science methods and theory. The resulting theoretical framework and empirical evidence offer new insights into how domestic and international factors interact during the constitution drafting process to produce new law that is both locally relevant and globally resonant. Scholars, practitioners, and students of law, political science, and sociology interested in understanding how institutions cope with complex problems like environmental degradation and human rights violations will find this book to be essential reading.

The Environmental Rights Revolution

The Environmental Rights Revolution

Author: David R. Boyd

Publisher: UBC Press

Published: 2011-11-29

Total Pages: 470

ISBN-13: 0774821639

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The right to a healthy environment has been the subject of extensive philosophical debates that revolve around the question: Should rights to clean air, water, and soil be entrenched in law? David Boyd answers this by moving beyond theoretical debates to measure the practical effects of enshrining the right in constitutions. His pioneering analysis of 193 constitutions and the laws and court decisions of more than 100 nations in Europe, Latin America, Asia, and Africa reveals a positive correlation between constitutional protection and stronger environmental laws, smaller ecological footprints, superior environmental performance, and improved quality of life.


Book Synopsis The Environmental Rights Revolution by : David R. Boyd

Download or read book The Environmental Rights Revolution written by David R. Boyd and published by UBC Press. This book was released on 2011-11-29 with total page 470 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The right to a healthy environment has been the subject of extensive philosophical debates that revolve around the question: Should rights to clean air, water, and soil be entrenched in law? David Boyd answers this by moving beyond theoretical debates to measure the practical effects of enshrining the right in constitutions. His pioneering analysis of 193 constitutions and the laws and court decisions of more than 100 nations in Europe, Latin America, Asia, and Africa reveals a positive correlation between constitutional protection and stronger environmental laws, smaller ecological footprints, superior environmental performance, and improved quality of life.

Constitutional Environmental Rights

Constitutional Environmental Rights

Author: Tim Hayward

Publisher: OUP Oxford

Published: 2004-12-16

Total Pages: 248

ISBN-13: 0191535311

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This book shows why a fundamental right to an adequate environment ought to be provided in the constitution of any modern democratic state. The importance of securing provision for environmental protection at the constitutional level is now widely recognized. Globally, more than 100 states make some form of provision for environmental protection in their constitutions. A question more hotly debated, though, is whether the provision should take the stringent form of a fundamental right. This book is the first to examine the question from the perspective of political theory. It explains why the right to an environment adequate for one's health and well-being is a genuine human right, and why it ought to be constitutionalized. It carefully elaborates this case and defends it in closely argued responses to critical challenges. It thus shows why there is no insurmountable obstacle to the effective implementation of this constitutional right, and why constitutionalizing this right is not democratically illegitimate. With particular reference to European Union member states, it explains what this right adds to states' existing human rights and environmental commitments. It concludes by showing how constitutional environmental rights can serve to promote the cause of environmental justice in a global context. The book provides illustrations from around the world of how human rights and environmental concerns have been linked to date, and highlights precedents for the future development of a fundamental right to an adequate environment. It will be of value to policy-makers, lawyers, campaigners, and citizens concerned with environmental protection as a public interest and fundamental right. It will provide a valuable resource for students and teachers in politics, philosophy, law, environmental studies, and social sciences more generally. The book makes an original contribution to normative political theory by rethinking rights and justice in the light of contemporary issues and contexts.


Book Synopsis Constitutional Environmental Rights by : Tim Hayward

Download or read book Constitutional Environmental Rights written by Tim Hayward and published by OUP Oxford. This book was released on 2004-12-16 with total page 248 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This book shows why a fundamental right to an adequate environment ought to be provided in the constitution of any modern democratic state. The importance of securing provision for environmental protection at the constitutional level is now widely recognized. Globally, more than 100 states make some form of provision for environmental protection in their constitutions. A question more hotly debated, though, is whether the provision should take the stringent form of a fundamental right. This book is the first to examine the question from the perspective of political theory. It explains why the right to an environment adequate for one's health and well-being is a genuine human right, and why it ought to be constitutionalized. It carefully elaborates this case and defends it in closely argued responses to critical challenges. It thus shows why there is no insurmountable obstacle to the effective implementation of this constitutional right, and why constitutionalizing this right is not democratically illegitimate. With particular reference to European Union member states, it explains what this right adds to states' existing human rights and environmental commitments. It concludes by showing how constitutional environmental rights can serve to promote the cause of environmental justice in a global context. The book provides illustrations from around the world of how human rights and environmental concerns have been linked to date, and highlights precedents for the future development of a fundamental right to an adequate environment. It will be of value to policy-makers, lawyers, campaigners, and citizens concerned with environmental protection as a public interest and fundamental right. It will provide a valuable resource for students and teachers in politics, philosophy, law, environmental studies, and social sciences more generally. The book makes an original contribution to normative political theory by rethinking rights and justice in the light of contemporary issues and contexts.

Global Environmental Constitutionalism

Global Environmental Constitutionalism

Author: James R. May

Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Published: 2015

Total Pages: 427

ISBN-13: 1107022258

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Reflecting a global trend, scores of countries have affirmed that their citizens are entitled to healthy air, water, and land and that their constitution should guarantee certain environmental rights. This book examines the increasing recognition that the environment is a proper subject for protection in constitutional texts and for vindication by constitutional courts. This phenomenon, which the authors call environmental constitutionalism, represents the confluence of constitutional law, international law, human rights, and environmental law. National apex and constitutional courts are exhibiting a growing interest in environmental rights, and as courts become more aware of what their peers are doing, this momentum is likely to increase. This book explains why such provisions came into being, how they are expressed, and the extent to which they have been, and might be, enforced judicially. It is a singular resource for evaluating the content of and hope for constitutional environmental rights.


Book Synopsis Global Environmental Constitutionalism by : James R. May

Download or read book Global Environmental Constitutionalism written by James R. May and published by Cambridge University Press. This book was released on 2015 with total page 427 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Reflecting a global trend, scores of countries have affirmed that their citizens are entitled to healthy air, water, and land and that their constitution should guarantee certain environmental rights. This book examines the increasing recognition that the environment is a proper subject for protection in constitutional texts and for vindication by constitutional courts. This phenomenon, which the authors call environmental constitutionalism, represents the confluence of constitutional law, international law, human rights, and environmental law. National apex and constitutional courts are exhibiting a growing interest in environmental rights, and as courts become more aware of what their peers are doing, this momentum is likely to increase. This book explains why such provisions came into being, how they are expressed, and the extent to which they have been, and might be, enforced judicially. It is a singular resource for evaluating the content of and hope for constitutional environmental rights.

Constitutional Environmental Rights

Constitutional Environmental Rights

Author: Tim Hayward

Publisher: Oxford University Press

Published: 2005

Total Pages: 249

ISBN-13: 0199278679

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This book shows why a fundamental right to an adequate environment ought to be provided in the constitution of any modern democratic state. It explains why the right to an environment adequate for one's health and well-being is a genuine human right and why it ought to be constitutionalised.


Book Synopsis Constitutional Environmental Rights by : Tim Hayward

Download or read book Constitutional Environmental Rights written by Tim Hayward and published by Oxford University Press. This book was released on 2005 with total page 249 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This book shows why a fundamental right to an adequate environment ought to be provided in the constitution of any modern democratic state. It explains why the right to an environment adequate for one's health and well-being is a genuine human right and why it ought to be constitutionalised.

The Green Amendment

The Green Amendment

Author: Maya K. Van Rossum

Publisher:

Published: 2017

Total Pages: 0

ISBN-13: 9781633310216

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2017 INDIE BOOK OF THE YEAR AWARD FINALIST "A rallying cry . . . Everyone who is concerned about the welfare of all species, including human beings. Please read this important book." --Richard Louv, chairman emeritus of the Children & Nature Network and author of LAST CHILD IN THE WOODS and THE NATURE PRINCIPLE The Constitutional Change We Need to Protect Our Priceless Natural Resources For decades, activists have relied on federal and state legislation to fight for a cleaner environment. And for decades, they've been fighting a losing battle. The sad truth is, our laws are designed to accommodate pollution rather than prevent it. It's no wonder people feel powerless when it comes to preserving the quality of their water, air, public parks, and special natural spaces. But there is a solution, argues veteran environmentalist Maya K. van Rossum: bypass the laws and turn to the ultimate authority--our state and federal constitutions. In 2013, van Rossum and her team won a watershed legal victory that not only protected Pennsylvania communities from ruthless frackers but affirmed the constitutional right of people in the state to a clean and healthy environment. Following this victory, van Rossum inaugurated the Green Amendment movement, dedicated to empowering every American community to mobilize for constitutional change. Now, with The Green Amendment, van Rossum lays out an inspiring new agenda for environmental advocacy, one that will finally empower people, level the playing field, and provide real hope for communities everywhere. Readers will discover how legislative environmentalism has failed communities across America, the transformational difference environmental constitutionalism can make, the economic imperative of environmental constitutionalism, and how to take action in their communities. We all have the right to pure water, clean air, and a healthy environment. It's time to claim that right--for our own sake and that of future generations.


Book Synopsis The Green Amendment by : Maya K. Van Rossum

Download or read book The Green Amendment written by Maya K. Van Rossum and published by . This book was released on 2017 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: 2017 INDIE BOOK OF THE YEAR AWARD FINALIST "A rallying cry . . . Everyone who is concerned about the welfare of all species, including human beings. Please read this important book." --Richard Louv, chairman emeritus of the Children & Nature Network and author of LAST CHILD IN THE WOODS and THE NATURE PRINCIPLE The Constitutional Change We Need to Protect Our Priceless Natural Resources For decades, activists have relied on federal and state legislation to fight for a cleaner environment. And for decades, they've been fighting a losing battle. The sad truth is, our laws are designed to accommodate pollution rather than prevent it. It's no wonder people feel powerless when it comes to preserving the quality of their water, air, public parks, and special natural spaces. But there is a solution, argues veteran environmentalist Maya K. van Rossum: bypass the laws and turn to the ultimate authority--our state and federal constitutions. In 2013, van Rossum and her team won a watershed legal victory that not only protected Pennsylvania communities from ruthless frackers but affirmed the constitutional right of people in the state to a clean and healthy environment. Following this victory, van Rossum inaugurated the Green Amendment movement, dedicated to empowering every American community to mobilize for constitutional change. Now, with The Green Amendment, van Rossum lays out an inspiring new agenda for environmental advocacy, one that will finally empower people, level the playing field, and provide real hope for communities everywhere. Readers will discover how legislative environmentalism has failed communities across America, the transformational difference environmental constitutionalism can make, the economic imperative of environmental constitutionalism, and how to take action in their communities. We all have the right to pure water, clean air, and a healthy environment. It's time to claim that right--for our own sake and that of future generations.

Principles of Constitutional Environmental Law

Principles of Constitutional Environmental Law

Author: James R. May

Publisher: American Bar Association

Published: 2011

Total Pages: 0

ISBN-13: 9781614380870

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Constitutional dimensions are at the heart of many environmental and energy law cases and policies. This comprehensive provides an authoritative account and analysis of the growing intersection of constitutional and environmental law, with chapters featuring a useful practice tip and concluding with a relevant case study. Beginning with an introduction to the field of constitutional environmental law, chapters examine federal and state authority respecting environmental law and policy; judicial review; individual; and emerging constitutional issues in environmental law.


Book Synopsis Principles of Constitutional Environmental Law by : James R. May

Download or read book Principles of Constitutional Environmental Law written by James R. May and published by American Bar Association. This book was released on 2011 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Constitutional dimensions are at the heart of many environmental and energy law cases and policies. This comprehensive provides an authoritative account and analysis of the growing intersection of constitutional and environmental law, with chapters featuring a useful practice tip and concluding with a relevant case study. Beginning with an introduction to the field of constitutional environmental law, chapters examine federal and state authority respecting environmental law and policy; judicial review; individual; and emerging constitutional issues in environmental law.

Implementing Environmental Constitutionalism

Implementing Environmental Constitutionalism

Author: Erin Daly

Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Published: 2018-05-31

Total Pages: 254

ISBN-13: 1316730875

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Constitutions can play a central role in responding to environmental challenges, such as pollution, biodiversity loss, lack of drinking water, and climate change. The vast majority of people on earth live under constitutional systems that protect the environment or recognize environmental rights. Such environmental constitutionalism, however, falls short without effective implementation by policymakers, advocates and jurists. Implementing Environmental Constitutionalism: Current Global Challenges explains and explores this 'implementation gap'. This collection is both broad and deep. While some of the essays analyze crosscutting themes, such as climate change and the need for rule of law that affect the implementation of environmental constitutionalism throughout the world, others delve deeply into geographically contextual experiences for lessons about how constitutional environmental law might be more effectively implemented. This volume informs global conversations about whether and how environmental constitutionalism can be made more effective to protect the natural environment.


Book Synopsis Implementing Environmental Constitutionalism by : Erin Daly

Download or read book Implementing Environmental Constitutionalism written by Erin Daly and published by Cambridge University Press. This book was released on 2018-05-31 with total page 254 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Constitutions can play a central role in responding to environmental challenges, such as pollution, biodiversity loss, lack of drinking water, and climate change. The vast majority of people on earth live under constitutional systems that protect the environment or recognize environmental rights. Such environmental constitutionalism, however, falls short without effective implementation by policymakers, advocates and jurists. Implementing Environmental Constitutionalism: Current Global Challenges explains and explores this 'implementation gap'. This collection is both broad and deep. While some of the essays analyze crosscutting themes, such as climate change and the need for rule of law that affect the implementation of environmental constitutionalism throughout the world, others delve deeply into geographically contextual experiences for lessons about how constitutional environmental law might be more effectively implemented. This volume informs global conversations about whether and how environmental constitutionalism can be made more effective to protect the natural environment.

A Global Environmental Right

A Global Environmental Right

Author: Stephen Turner

Publisher: Routledge

Published: 2013-09-11

Total Pages: 203

ISBN-13: 1135090254

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The development of an international substantive environmental right on a global level has long been a contested issue. To a limited extent environmental rights have developed in a fragmented way through different legal regimes. This book examines the potential for the development of a global environmental right that would create legal duties for all types of decision-makers and provide the bedrock for a new system of international environmental governance. Taking a problem solving approach, the book seeks to demonstrate how straightforward and logical changes to the existing global legal architecture would address some of the fundamental root causes of environmental degradation. It puts forward a draft global environmental right that would integrate duties for both state and non-state actors within reformed systems of environmental governance and a rational framework for business and industry to adhere to in order that those systems could be made operational. It also examines the failures of the existing international climate change regime and explains how the draft global environmental right could remedy existing deficits. This innovative and interdisciplinary book will be of great interest to policy-makers, students and researchers in international environmental law, climate change, environmental politics and global environmental governance as well as those studying the WTO, international trade law, human rights law, constitutional law and corporate law.


Book Synopsis A Global Environmental Right by : Stephen Turner

Download or read book A Global Environmental Right written by Stephen Turner and published by Routledge. This book was released on 2013-09-11 with total page 203 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The development of an international substantive environmental right on a global level has long been a contested issue. To a limited extent environmental rights have developed in a fragmented way through different legal regimes. This book examines the potential for the development of a global environmental right that would create legal duties for all types of decision-makers and provide the bedrock for a new system of international environmental governance. Taking a problem solving approach, the book seeks to demonstrate how straightforward and logical changes to the existing global legal architecture would address some of the fundamental root causes of environmental degradation. It puts forward a draft global environmental right that would integrate duties for both state and non-state actors within reformed systems of environmental governance and a rational framework for business and industry to adhere to in order that those systems could be made operational. It also examines the failures of the existing international climate change regime and explains how the draft global environmental right could remedy existing deficits. This innovative and interdisciplinary book will be of great interest to policy-makers, students and researchers in international environmental law, climate change, environmental politics and global environmental governance as well as those studying the WTO, international trade law, human rights law, constitutional law and corporate law.

Global Norms and Green Constitutions

Global Norms and Green Constitutions

Author: Joshua Chad Gellers

Publisher:

Published: 2014

Total Pages: 209

ISBN-13: 9781321020595

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Since 1974, countries all over the world have adopted constitutional environmental rights. Yet, these states exhibit important differences in geography, history, and resources. How can social scientists explain the remarkable degree of similarity in the face of such considerable variation? It is this research question which motivates the present dissertation. I seek to answer this question by drawing on work from political science, sociology, and legal studies. In particular, I examine international relations theory, world society theory, and constitutional design theory. I discuss how studying environmental rights can contribute to central debates within international relations regarding international norms and the state. Drawing from these theoretical perspectives, I propose a "world cultural framework of constitutional environmental rights." I argue that normative factors are more central to explaining the expansion of environmental rights than rationalist-materialist factors. I conduct an empirical analysis of the expansion of constitutional environmental rights using mixed methods. First, I conduct survival analysis using a Cox regression model on UN-recognized countries over the time period 1983-2010 to test the explanatory value of six independent variables. I find that domestic politics and normative considerations are more relevant than rationalist-materialist factors in explaining the outcome observed. Second, I use the results of the quantitative analysis to identify a pair of plausibility probes which fit a most similar systems design--Nepal and Sri Lanka. Then I engage in qualitative content analyses of interviews conducted in these countries. The results from these analyses suggest that the likelihood a country will adopt a constitutional environmental right is associated with its domestic political conditions and the historical period in which its constitution is written. I describe how the results offer new insights into major questions in international relations and theories discussed earlier, and demonstrate that the world cultural framework of constitutional environmental rights adequately explains the outcomes observed in Nepal and Sri Lanka. Third, I show how the findings from the comparative study can be integrated into the statistical model to test for generalizability, highlight major findings of the study, and suggest areas for future research.


Book Synopsis Global Norms and Green Constitutions by : Joshua Chad Gellers

Download or read book Global Norms and Green Constitutions written by Joshua Chad Gellers and published by . This book was released on 2014 with total page 209 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Since 1974, countries all over the world have adopted constitutional environmental rights. Yet, these states exhibit important differences in geography, history, and resources. How can social scientists explain the remarkable degree of similarity in the face of such considerable variation? It is this research question which motivates the present dissertation. I seek to answer this question by drawing on work from political science, sociology, and legal studies. In particular, I examine international relations theory, world society theory, and constitutional design theory. I discuss how studying environmental rights can contribute to central debates within international relations regarding international norms and the state. Drawing from these theoretical perspectives, I propose a "world cultural framework of constitutional environmental rights." I argue that normative factors are more central to explaining the expansion of environmental rights than rationalist-materialist factors. I conduct an empirical analysis of the expansion of constitutional environmental rights using mixed methods. First, I conduct survival analysis using a Cox regression model on UN-recognized countries over the time period 1983-2010 to test the explanatory value of six independent variables. I find that domestic politics and normative considerations are more relevant than rationalist-materialist factors in explaining the outcome observed. Second, I use the results of the quantitative analysis to identify a pair of plausibility probes which fit a most similar systems design--Nepal and Sri Lanka. Then I engage in qualitative content analyses of interviews conducted in these countries. The results from these analyses suggest that the likelihood a country will adopt a constitutional environmental right is associated with its domestic political conditions and the historical period in which its constitution is written. I describe how the results offer new insights into major questions in international relations and theories discussed earlier, and demonstrate that the world cultural framework of constitutional environmental rights adequately explains the outcomes observed in Nepal and Sri Lanka. Third, I show how the findings from the comparative study can be integrated into the statistical model to test for generalizability, highlight major findings of the study, and suggest areas for future research.