Environmental concerns only entered popular and political consciousness in the 1960s, and started appearing in international human rights instruments from the 1970s onwards.

The relationship between the environment and human rights is straightforward according to most international courts and human rights scholars: we need to protect the environment 'in order to' protect human rights. In reality, the relationship between the environment and human rights is more fraught. The protection of the environment can violate human rights, especially the rights of Indigenous peoples, but also the freedom of religion, economic freedoms and other rights. Conversely, the protection of the environment as a 'human' right gives short shrift to 'nature' as a system in, of and for itself, and not as a servant of human interests.

Join this online conversation (moderated by Prof. Peter Szigeti, University of Alberta Faculty of Law) about the troubled relationship between human rights and the environment!