Overview
Five years after the adoption of the landmark 8 October 2021 resolution by the United Nations (UN) Human Rights Council recognising, for the first time, the right to a safe, clean, healthy and sustainable environment as an autonomous human right, the field of environmental human rights has undergone rapid and significant development. Yet this evolution is unfolding in a context marked by growing pressures on multilateralism, increasing geopolitical tensions and the proliferation of armed conflicts. These dynamics pose significant challenges to the effective implementation and enforcement of both international human rights law and international environmental law, while simultaneously underscoring their continued relevance.
In this evolving context, UN human rights treaty bodies have increasingly addressed the impact of environmental degradation and climate change on the enjoyment of fundamental rights. Through general comments, concluding observations and individual communications, they have clarified States' obligations to protect rights such as life, health, housing and culture from environmental harm. At the same time, litigation at national, regional and international levels is expanding rapidly, largely driven by the strategic engagement of civil society. Courts and tribunals, through both contentious proceedings and advisory opinions, are shaping the legal contours of key issues such as climate change, transboundary environmental harm and biodiversity protection. In a fragmented international landscape, litigation has emerged as a central tool for accountability and norm development.
These developments reflect a growing understanding that environmental protection and human rights are deeply interconnected. They also highlight that their effective realisation increasingly depends on the strategic engagement of practitioners across multiple fora, including international organisations, domestic institutions, courts and civil society.
This training course is designed to equip participants with the practical knowledge, tools and strategies necessary to navigate this multifaceted landscape. Participants will engage with key international and regional frameworks while developing the ability to use existing mechanisms in practice, including in contexts where multilateral cooperation is under strain.
Content and Approach
The course examines the evolving relationship between environmental protection and human rights, focusing on developments following the recognition of the right to a healthy environment by the UN Human Rights Council. It explores how international human rights law and international environmental law interact, and how these frameworks are being applied in practice through institutional processes, advocacy initiatives and litigation.
Particular attention is given to the role of UN human rights mechanisms, including treaty bodies and special procedures, in addressing environmental degradation and climate change. The course also analyses how geopolitical tensions, armed conflicts and broader challenges to multilateralism affect the implementation and effectiveness of environmental human rights norms.
Through case studies and practical examples, participants will examine how legal and advocacy strategies can be used to advance environmental protection through human rights law. The course further explores the growing role of litigation at national, regional and international levels, including the use of advisory opinions, strategic litigation and amicus curiae interventions to strengthen accountability and contribute to legal development.
Throughout the course, participants will consider the role of different actors, including States, international organisations, courts, businesses and civil society organisations, in promoting environmental human rights in an increasingly fragmented global order.
Key Areas Covered
The training addresses the following areas:
- The key norms, principles and enforcement mechanisms of international human rights law and international environmental law, including developments following the recognition of the right to a healthy environment
- The impact of environmental degradation and climate change on the enjoyment of human rights
- The role of UN human rights treaty bodies and other UN mechanisms in addressing environmental issues
- The effects of geopolitical tensions, armed conflicts and challenges to multilateralism on the implementation of environmental and human rights obligations
- Practical strategies for advancing environmental protection through human rights law
- Litigation pathways at national, regional and international levels, including strategic litigation, advisory proceedings and amicus curiae interventions
- Accountability mechanisms for addressing environmental harm and promoting compliance with international obligations
- The role of States, international organisations, courts, businesses and civil society in advancing environmental human rights
- Case studies illustrating contemporary challenges and responses in the field of environmental human rights
Expected Learning
By the end of the training, participants will:
- Understand the key norms, principles and enforcement mechanisms of international human rights law and environmental law, including recent developments following the recognition of the right to a healthy environment
- Critically assess how geopolitical tensions, armed conflicts and current challenges to multilateralism affect the implementation and effectiveness of these legal frameworks
- Be able to engage effectively with UN human rights mechanisms and procedures to address environmental issues, including in politically sensitive or constrained contexts
- Identify and apply practical legal strategies to advance environmental protection through human rights law
- Analyse litigation pathways and procedural tools, including the role of amici curiae, in promoting accountability for environmental harm
- Evaluate the role of different actors, including States, international organisations, courts, businesses and civil society, in advancing environmental human rights in a fragmented global order
- Apply human rights norms to concrete environmental challenges across different professional and institutional settings
Format and Methodology
The course adopts an interactive and practice-oriented approach, combining expert-led sessions with case studies, group exercises and peer exchange. Participants will be encouraged to draw on their own professional experience and to apply the knowledge acquired to real-world scenarios.
The training combines concise presentations with practical exercises designed to strengthen participants' ability to use international and regional mechanisms in their day-to-day work. Through collaborative discussions and applied case studies, participants will explore concrete approaches to advancing environmental protection through human rights law in a variety of institutional and professional contexts.
Participants
This course is designed for practitioners, including:
- Staff of NGOs and civil society organisations
- Representatives of governments and international organisations
- Professionals working in human rights, development and environmental fields
- Business and legal practitioners
- Academics seeking a practice-oriented perspective
Cost and Payment Information
Participation in the training is subject to a fee, which varies depending on the format of attendance.
For those attending in Geneva, the total cost is CHF 2,380. This includes access to all sessions, course documentation, which participants can access through a dedicated online platform before, during and after the training, lunch on each training day, and refreshments during scheduled breaks.
Participants who choose to follow the course remotely are charged a reduced fee of CHF 2,180.
A 20% discount is available for groups of three or more participants registering together. The reduction applies to the total group fee. Please note that this offer is only available for in-person participation in Geneva and does not apply to online attendance.
Expenses related to travel, accommodation, visa applications and evening meals are not covered and remain the responsibility of participants.
Once a place on the course has been offered, it will be confirmed and held only upon payment of a CHF 200 deposit. The remaining balance must then be paid to complete the registration. If a participant withdraws after confirmation, the deposit will be retained to cover administrative costs.
