Environmental Justice and the Protection of Human Dignity: Legal Challenges and Opportunities under the new Council of Europe Convention

Abstract

The Council of Europe’s Convention on the Protection of the Environment through Criminal Law represents an innovative instrument within the international legislative framework, with the potential to enhance the protection of the ecosystem and the respect for human dignity. This article aims to examine, through the analysis of recent cases of environmental degradation, the main shortcomings that the Convention seeks to address and the legal mechanisms established to do so. It demonstrates that the provisions contained in the Convention can serve as catalysts for broader global enforcement, ultimately benefiting populations and safeguarding their dignity.