The echr and the iccpr: A Human Rights-Based Approach to the Protection of the Environment and the Climate System

SystemThe aftermath of World War ii first led to the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (udhr or Declaration)1 in 1948, which, although non-legally binding, was a watershed moment for the international community.The Declaration represents a common standard of achievements for all peoples and all nations.Europe did not lag far behind, and the Council of Europe member states already in 1950 responded with the adoption of the legally binding document, the European Convention on Human Rights (echr).This is therefore a period of 75th anniversaries of fundamental international documents and organisations -landmarks for the realisation of human rights.Last December marked three quarters of a century of the udhr, this year the Council of Europe celebrates 75 years, and next year the echr will also celebrate its 75th anniversary.Over three quarters of a century, much has been achieved in the field of human rights at all levels: international, regional, and national, through the development of instruments and mechanisms for the protection of human rights.At least in Europe, almost everyone knows of the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR), established on the basis of the echr, while much fewer have ever heard of the United Nations (UN) Human Rights Committee (HRCttee or Committee), the body of independent experts that monitors the implementation of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (iccpr)2 -a 1