Cambridge University Press Towards the Environmental Minimum: Environmental Protection through Human Rights

Pervasive environmental harm that disproportionately impacts vulnerable members of society is left largely unregulated across the globe despite existing legal commitments to human rights and environmental protection in many states. To address this shortcoming, Stefan Theil proposes a new normative framework for environmental protection through human rights law. In clear and accessible prose, he demonstrates how such a human rights-based approach can strengthen environmental protection without requiring radical departures from established protection regimes and legal principles. The environmental minimum developed in the book translates the general and abstract commitments of states into specific and practical measures that protect the environment. The framework develops the doctrine of international, regional, and domestic courts, analysed through an innovative approach that improves contextual awareness. This book is thus a valuable resource for lawyers, social scientists, political theorists, environmental and human rights advocates. Book Description A practical human rights approach strengthens environmental protection without requiring radical departures from established protection regimes and legal principles. About the Author Stefan Theil is a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the Faculty of Law, University of Oxford. He teaches and conducts research in public and constitutional law, environmental law, European Union Law, as well as human rights, with a particular focus on freedom of expression. He writes and blogs frequently on current legal developments, often drawing comparisons between legal systems and reflecting on deepening European integration.