Manual on human rights and the environment – Principles emerging from the case-law of the European Court of Human Rights

Human fights and the environment have become increasingly interconnected. This manual seeks to contribute to a better understanding of this relationship in the light of the relevant case-law of the European Court of Human Rights. Whilst the European Convention on Human Rights does not guarantee a specific right to a healthy environment, the general standards deriving from it may also apply to environmental matters. The European Court of Human Rights regularly examines complaints in which individuals argue that a breach of their Convention rights is the result of adverse environmental factors. The aim of this manual is to present the principles flowing from this case-law in a systematic and accessible way. It has been prepared by government experts from all forty-six member states of the Council of Europe. The manual is intended to be of practical use not only for public authorities, but also decision-makers, legal professionals and the general public.