Environmental Protection in the Field of Human Rights

Abstract

In the field of science, human rights and environmental protection are multidisciplinary fields. Hence different approaches to their interaction. In the context of the historical development of human rights, the right to a healthy environment belongs to the third generation of human rights. Due to the increase in industrialization around the world and the use of technologies which main feature is the easy availability and low cost of raw materials and processes, a number of global environmental problems have appeared (ozone depletion, global warming, climate change, etc.) which required a global response. The previous approaches (Stockholm Conference, etc.) were not enough, a new concept was needed that prevents the emergence of problems. A new concept, called sustainable development, implies economic development without permanent impact on the environment. Through the principle of sustainable development, the last UN concept for environmental protection and improvement of society in all segments was formulated, called Agenda 2030. BiH is a signatory to the agenda, but main driver of progress in the field of environmental protection and human rights is BiH’s aspiration to join the EU. One of the key meeting points of human rights and environmental protection should be the rights of activists for environmental protection, resolving their legal status through a law that will recognize their importance. The EU is specifically working on this, so it is expected that BiH will also make progress in the field of better status of activists for environmental protection, through the process of joining EU.