Factors in the Development of a Global Substantive Environmental Right

Authors

  • Stephen James Turner Kingston University

Keywords:

Desarrollo sostenible, derechos ambientales, actores no-estatales, empresas, corporaciones, Organización Mundial del Comercio (WTO), bancos de desarrollo multilateral (MDB).

Abstract

Owing to the fact that there is currently no international treaty that provides a globally accepted substantive human right for the protection of the environment (Anton and Shelton, 2011; Turner, 2009) there is a case for considering how such a right could or should be developed. This paper considers certain aspects of the potential development of such a right by focussing on key non-state actors that make decisions, which can affect the environment. Consideration is given to three different types of non-state actors: companies (corporations), the World Trade Organisation (WTO) and multilateral development banks (MDBs). It specifically examines their ‘constitutional’ purposes and the overall legal constraints that their decision-makers are bound to comply with, and where applicable, the legal obligations that they impose upon their members.

Therefore, this approach to the issue focuses on the legal foundations that determine how such actors make decisions and how that can affect the environment. This paper provides a broad perspective to illustrate the commonalities between the actors that are discussed in relation to their decision-making processes. Ultimately it provides an argument in support of the formal development of an international treaty that would create a global substantive environmental right. However it posits that such a treaty should inter alia be designed and framed in a manner, that would develop reformed legal obligations for the types of non-state actors discussed.

Debido al hecho de que actualmente no existe ningún tratado internacional que proporcione un derecho humano globalmente aceptado para la protección del medio ambiente (Anton y Shelton 2011, Turner 2009) hay un argumento para considerar cómo podría o debería desarrollarse tal derecho. Este documento considera algunos aspectos del desarrollo potencial de tal derecho, centrándose en los principales actores no estatales que toman decisiones que pueden afectar el medio ambiente. Se consideran tres tipos de actores no estatales: las empresas (corporaciones), la World Trade Organisation (WTO, Organización Mundial del Comercio) y los bancos de desarrollo multilateral (MDB, Multilateral Development Banks). Se examinan específicamente sus propósitos "constitucionales" y las restricciones legales generales que están obligados a cumplir quienes toman las decisiones, y cuando sea aplicable, las obligaciones legales que imponen a sus miembros.

Por lo tanto, este enfoque de la cuestión se centra en los fundamentos jurídicos que determinan cómo estos actores toman decisiones y cómo eso puede afectar al medio ambiente. Este documento ofrece una perspectiva amplia para ilustrar los puntos en común entre los actores que se analizan, en relación con sus procesos de toma de decisiones. En última instancia, proporciona un argumento en apoyo del desarrollo formal de un tratado internacional que crearía un derecho ambiental sustantivo global. Sin embargo, plantea que dicho tratado debe entre otras cosas, estar diseñado y enmarcado de manera que desarrollaría obligaciones legales reformadas para los actores no estatales analizados.

DOWNLOAD THIS PAPER FROM SSRN: http://ssrn.com/abstract=2247839

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Author Biography

Stephen James Turner, Kingston University

Stephen is an international environmental lawyer with previous experience working in business, law and industry. Prior to working at Kingston University he was a senior lecturer at Winchester University where he taught Company Law.

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Published

30-01-2013

How to Cite

James Turner, S. (2013) “Factors in the Development of a Global Substantive Environmental Right”, Oñati Socio-Legal Series, 3(5), pp. 893–907. Available at: https://opo.iisj.net/index.php/osls/article/view/257 (Accessed: 6 November 2024).