ABSTRACT
It is clear that long before the international community recognized a stand-alone right to a healthy environment, human rights bodies have discussed the relationship between human rights and the environment, and how environmental degradation, climate change, and unsustainable development affect the enjoyment of rights. While it is impossible to summarize all the principles, recommendations, and guidelines of the human rights bodies examined in this volume, the authors will highlight some of the salient points. Far from fragmentation, there seems to be considerable cohesion in the recommendations made to states in relation to environmental issues across issues and across the human rights institutions surveyed. Despite the absence of a specific mandate on environmental issues, the UN human rights institutions surveyed have addressed environmental issues within their mandate to the extent that these environmental issues impinge upon the enjoyment of rights covered in the treaty that the institution is responsible for.
