Human rights, rights of the earth, and global change

Abstract

Humanity has become a threat to the environment that sustains us. Global climate change, ocean acidification, air and water pollution, and other forms of environmental harm threaten ecosystems and human communities all over the planet. Human rights can protect both humans and the environment on which we depend. Long-recognized rights like the rights to life, health, and culture, as well as newer rights like the rights to water and a healthy environment, defend humans who depend on a healthy environment. Indigenous and cultural rights protect those who depend on the environment for their spiritual, cultural, or physical survival. Rights to participate in decision-making, to access relevant information, and to judicial remedies serve to safeguard other fundamental rights. Ultimately, the scope of our power to harm the environment requires us to recognize and protect the rights of future generations and of Mother Earth herself.