Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®

Law Commons

Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®

Environmental law

2011

GW Law Faculty Publications & Other Works

Articles 1 - 3 of 3

Full-Text Articles in Law

Human Rights And The Environment: Substantive Rights, Dinah L. Shelton Jan 2011

Human Rights And The Environment: Substantive Rights, Dinah L. Shelton

GW Law Faculty Publications & Other Works

This chapter focuses on the relationship between human rights and the environment. The chapter describes multiple sources of human rights and environmental obligations, including international treaties, national law, and the judicial decisions of international courts. Human rights that indirectly call for environmental conservatism include the rights to life, health, privacy, and standard of living. This chapter concludes by noting that governments must balance human rights related to the environment with other concerns such as economic advancement.


Comments On The Normative Challenge Of Environmental “Soft Law”, Dinah L. Shelton Jan 2011

Comments On The Normative Challenge Of Environmental “Soft Law”, Dinah L. Shelton

GW Law Faculty Publications & Other Works

This paper describes the increased presence of non-binding soft law in international environmental law and begins by listing the possible uses of a “non-binding normative instrument.” Next, the paper describes the relationship between soft law and customary international law and notes that soft law may result in subsequent codification of those principles or interpret existing treaty obligations. The paper then contemplates why states are utilizing soft law in international environmental law and discusses issues regarding compliance with non-binding soft law. The paper concludes that the complicated nature of the international system prevents a prediction of the extent to which states …


Environmental Protection And Human Rights, Dinah L. Shelton, Donald K. Anton Jan 2011

Environmental Protection And Human Rights, Dinah L. Shelton, Donald K. Anton

GW Law Faculty Publications & Other Works

This book concentrates on the relationship between human rights and the environment. The first chapter provides the framework for the book’s analysis and begins by defining “environment” and noting recent changes to environmental conditions and their causes, such as reduced biodiversity and increased population and resource consumption. The first portion of the chapter concludes by suggesting actions such as removing financial incentives for over-consumption of limited economic resources, that could improve the current environmental trends.