The Environmental Rights Revolution ─ A Global Study of Constitutions, Human Rights, and the Environment

The right to a healthy environment has been the subject of extensive
philosophical debates that revolve around a key question: Should rights
to clean air, water, and soil be entrenched in law, in the
constitutions of democratic states?

In The Environmental Rights Revolution, David Boyd, one of
Canada's leading environmental lawyers, answers this question by
moving beyond theoretical debate to measure the practical effects of
enshrining the right to a healthy environment in constitutions. His
analysis of 193 constitutions and the laws and court decisions of more
than 100 nations shows how the constitutional right to a healthy
environment has been incorporated in legislation and is being
judicially enforced in Europe, Latin America, Asia, and Africa. Nations
with constitutional protections have stronger environmental laws,
enhanced enforcement, greater government accountability, and better
access to justice, information, and public participation in decision
making than nations without such provisions. As a result, they also
have smaller ecological footprints, rank higher on comprehensive
indices of environmental performance, and have reduced pollution
faster.

This important and timely book not only demonstrates that enshrining
environmental protection into national constitutions has the
power to make sustainability a priority, it tells inspiring stories
about the difference the right to a healthy environment is making in
people's lives.

Dr. David R. Boyd is one of Canada's leading
experts in environmental law and policy and an adjunct professor in the
School of Resource and Environmental Management at Simon Fraser
University. He has advised the governments of Canada, Sweden, and
Iceland on environmental and constitutional issues and is the co-chair
of Vancouver's Greenest City Action Team along with Mayor Gregor
Robertson. He is a member of the IUCN's Commission on
Environmental Law, the Global Network for the Study of Human Rights and
the Environment, the Forum for Leadership on Water, and the
Environmental Law Alliance Worldwide (ELAW).

David Boyd is the author of several bestselling and award-winning
books as well as more than a hundred publications related to
environmental law and policy, including Unnatural Law:
Rethinking Canadian Environmental Law and Policy. His current
research focuses on the effects of enshrining environmental rights and
responsibilities in national constitutions.

Dr. David R. Boyd is one of Canada's leadingexperts in environmental law and policy and an adjunct professor in theSchool of Resource and Environmental Management at Simon FraserUniversity. He has advised the governments of Canada, Sweden, andIceland on environmental and constitutional issues and is the co-chairof Vancouver's Greenest City Action Team along with Mayor GregorRobertson. He is a member of the IUCN's Commission onEnvironmental Law, the Global Network for the Study of Human Rights andthe Environment, the Forum for Leadership on Water, and theEnvironmental Law Alliance Worldwide (ELAW).David Boyd is the author of several bestselling and award-winningbooks as well as more than a hundred publications related toenvironmental law and policy, including Unnatural Law:Rethinking Canadian Environmental Law and Policy. His currentresearch focuses on the effects of enshrining environmental rights andresponsibilities in national constitutions.