ELSA Webinars Academy ELSA Joensuu on “Environmental Rights and the European Convention on Human Rights: Expanding the Horizons of Protection”
ELSA Joensuu is excited to present the ELSA Webinars Academy on the following topic: "Environmental Rights and the European Convention on Human Rights: Expanding the Horizons of Protection"
This EWA consists of five sessions (approx. 5 hours in total) exploring environmental rights within the framework of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR). The sessions cover:
- Introduction and framing of environmental rights in international law and the current scope under the ECHR;
- European legal perspectives and the approach of the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR);
- Comparative global perspectives from the United States and Latin America;
- A case study workshop applying theory to practice;
- A closing debate on whether the ECHR should explicitly recognize a right to a clean environment.
The aim of the program is to critically examine the role of the ECHR in environmental protection and encourage participants to reflect on the potential and limits of human rights law in addressing environmental harm.
Participants who attend the webinar will be provided with a certificate of participation.
The participation is free of charge.
Applications are open until 26th of October, 17:00 EEST (Helsinki time)
Webinar Agenda (5 sessions, approximately one hour each)
Session 1: Introduction & Framing
An overview of environmental rights in international law, with a focus on the ECHR and the current scope of human rights protection related to the environment.
Session 2: European Legal Perspective
Examines how the European Court of Human Rights addresses environmental harm under Article 2 (right to life) and Article 8 (right to private and family life).
Session 3: Comparative Global Perspectives
Explores examples from Latin America and U.S. states where environmental rights are explicitly recognized, comparing enforcement mechanisms and legal outcomes.
Session 4: Case Study Workshop
Interactive workshop analyzing real-life cases from the ECtHR that illustrate the challenges and possibilities of linking human rights and environmental protection.
Session 5: Debate & Closing
A student-led debate on whether environmental rights should be formally recognized under the ECHR, weighing potential benefits for human rights protection against risks and legal complexities.