This chapter
considers the link between human rights and environmental protection. It covers
the emergence of environmental rights and its correlation to the human rights
framework as it provided relief to victims of environmental degradation and gave
a voice to marginalized communities despite its limitations. The chapter
provides an outline of the evolution of environmental rights starting from the
enactment of the Stockholm Declaration on Human Environment. It then explores
the recent development in environmental rights, such as the framework principles
on human rights and the environment, Global Pact for the Environment and
Environmental Rights Initiative. The UN Human Rights Committee handled the case
of Teitiota v. New Zealand which revolved around climate
refugees.
