Preserving the environment and promoting sustainable development are essential steps in attaining a strong and balanced global ecosystem. The relationship between these principles and human rights has attracted considerable attention in recent years, influencing both international and state laws. This brief seeks to illustrate the intricate relationship between sustainable economic development, the preservation of the environment, and the protection of human rights. It highlights how these elements may work together to guarantee a fair and thriving future for everyone. Sustainable development means to meet the necessity of the present without compromising the resource of future generations. This concept can be categorised into three main elements: economic expansion, societal involvement, and ecological durability. The concept of environmental human rights is increasingly being associated with sustainable development and environmental preservation, indicating a global tendency to recognise the inherent entitlement to a sound and unpolluted environment. The Escazú Agreement and the Aarhus Convention exemplify this trend by giving precedence to procedural environmental rights, such as the right to access information, engage in public decision-making, and seek legal redress. These rights are crucial for protecting the right to a pristine environment. The Escazú Agreement places particular emphasis on the importance of equality and non-discrimination for marginalised groups, including indigenous peoples and environmental defenders. This establishes a strong connection between the conservation of the environment and broader concerns related to human rights. Hence, the purpose of the inquiry is to assess and compare the effectiveness and approaches of environmental conservation and sustainable development projects in protecting environmental human rights in different areas. The study examines the relationship between sustainable development, environmental protection, and environmental human rights, as highlighted in the Escazú Agreement and the American Convention on Human Rights. This study examines the current legal frameworks in place to safeguard the environment of Bangladesh while promoting economic growth. This study employs a descriptive, thematic, and doctrinal legal research technique, together with an integrated literature analysis, to examine legal mechanisms that promote a harmonious connection between economic development and the protection of environmental human rights.
Abdulkadir, B. A., Mustafa, M., & Haseeb Ansari, A. (2012). Protection of human rights and the environment: Links and approaches. 6, 56–65.
Abdullah, M., Othman, A., Jani, R., Edo, J., & Abdullah, M. T. (2021). Socio-economic Development and Sustainable Livelihood of the Orang Asli (pp. 201–214). https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-64961-6_13
Aguilera, M. G. (2023a). Chapter 6 Regional Environmental Human Rights Law. Brill. https://doi.org/10.1163/9789004543775_010
Aguilera, M. G. (2023b). Environmental Human Rights: New Thinking from Latin America and the Caribbean. Martinus Nijhoff.
Ala Uddin, M. (2023). A Critical Evaluation of Environmental Dispute Resolution Mechanisms in Bangladesh: Addressing Challenges and Insights. Indonesian Journal of Law and Society, 4, 49. https://doi.org/10.19184/ijls.v4i2.41732
Anton, D. K., & Shelton, D. L. (2011). Environmental Protection and Human Rights. Cambridge University Press. https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9780511974571
Bagchi, S. S., & Paul, S. (2022). Book review: Nandini Oza, The Struggle for Narmada: An Oral History of the Narmada Bachao Andolan by Adivasi Leaders Keshavbhau and Kevalsingh Vasave. Contemporary Voice of Dalit, 2455328X221132966.
https://doi.org/10.1177/2455328X221132966
Baxewanos, F., & Raza, W. (2013). Human Rights Impact Assessments as a New Tool for Development Policy?
Begum, N., & Alam, S. (2023). An assessment of the legal and policy framework for participatory forest governance in Bangladesh. Asia Pacific Journal of Environmental Law, 26(1), 33–61. https://doi.org/10.4337/apjel.2023.01.02
Bhat, S., & D’Souza, L. (2022). Eco-Centrism and the Right to Development: Bridging the Dichotomy. Christ University Law Journal, 11(1), 35–57.
https://doi.org/10.12728/culj.20.2
Binder, C. (2021). A European Human Rights Perspective on National Sustainable Development Institutions. In A. R. Harrington, M. Szabó, & M.-C. Cordonier Segger (Eds.), Intergenerational Justice in Sustainable Development Treaty Implementation: Advancing Future Generations Rights through National Institutions (pp. 617–637). Cambridge University Press. https://doi.org/10.1017/9781108768511.038
Bint-E-Basar, K., & Tasnim, K. (2024). Environmental Management and Justice System in Bangladesh: Issues and Legal Framework. Journal of Asian and African Social Science and Humanities, 10, 46–57. https://doi.org/10.55327/jaash.v10i1.322
Castro, M., Krieger, G., Balge, M., Tanner, M., Utzinger, J., Whittaker, M., & Singer, B. (2016). Examples of coupled human and environmental systems from the extractive industry and hydropower sector interfaces. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 113, 201605678. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1605678113
Chatterjee, C. (2000). Methods of research in law (2nd ed). Old Bailey Press.
Chowdhury, N. (2014). From Judicial Activism to Adventurism—The Godavarman Case in the Supreme Court of India. Asia Pacific Journal of Environmental Law, 17, 177–190.
Cullet, P. (2022). Confronting inequality beyond sustainable development: The case for eco-human rights and differentiation. Review of European, Comparative & International Environmental Law, 31(1), 7–15. https://doi.org/10.1111/reel.12439
Do, Q.-T., Joshi, S., & Stolper, S. (2018). Can environmental policy reduce infant mortality? Evidence from the Ganga Pollution Cases. Journal of Development Economics, 133, 306–325. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jdeveco.2018.03.001
Egorenkov, L. (2023, November 20). Environmental protection.
https://doi.org/10.12737/1859851
Ford?Learner, N., Addison, J., & Smallhorn-West, P. (2024). Conservation and human rights: The public commitments of international conservation organizations. Conservation Letters. https://doi.org/10.1111/conl.13035
Foyet, M. (2023). Human Rights-Based Conservation: The Integral Role of Human Rights Director in the Conservation Sector. Journal of Environmental Law & Policy, 03, 23–87. https://doi.org/10.33002/jelp030302
Fraser, E. E. (2003). The Dimensions of Human Rights: A Confirmatory Factor Analysis of Human Rights Provisions. International Journal of Sociology, 33(4), 11–40.
Gilson, J. (2024). Sustainable development and the environment in EU and Japanese free trade agreements: Embedding anthropocentric narratives. Environmental Politics, 33(4), 727–748. https://doi.org/10.1080/09644016.2023.2274750
Habiba, U. (2024). Protecting the Environment with Human Rights: Mechanism Rooted in Anthropocentric Approach. Human Rights in the Global South (HRGS), 2, 104–119. https://doi.org/10.56784/hrgs.v2i2.73
Herwati, S., & Wungkana, P. (2023). Human Rights Violations in Indonesia’s National Strategic Development Project. Indonesian Journal of Law and Society, 4, 1. https://doi.org/10.19184/ijls.v4i2.43006
Hiskes, R. P. (2008, December 8). The Human Right to a Green Future: Environmental Rights and Intergenerational Justice. https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/The-Human-Right-to-a-Green-Future%3A-Environmental-Hiskes/53fee6dd7b8ee6e7f07d3dd0510541b906bfb197
Hossain, M. I., Heng Teh, B., Chong, L. L., Ong, T. S., Tabash, M. I., & Jamadar, Y. (2024). Corporate shared prosperity: scale development and validation. Cogent Business & Management, 11(1), 2369217.
Hossain, M. I., Kumar, J., & Islam, M. T. (2024). Antecedents of Sustainable Tourism Development in Sundarbans, Bangladesh with the Moderation of Political Instability and Mediation of Destination Resilience. Tourism Planning & Development, 1-29.
Hossain, M. I., Kumar, J., Islam, M. T., & Valeri, M. (2024). The interplay among paradoxical leadership, industry 4.0 technologies, organisational ambidexterity, strategic flexibility and corporate sustainable performance in manufacturing SMEs of Malaysia. European Business Review, 36(5), 639-669.
Hossain, M. I., Ong, T. S., Jamadar, Y., Teh, B. H., & Islam, A. (2024). Nexus among green entrepreneurship orientation, green ambidexterity innovation, green technological turbulence and green performance: moderated-mediation evidence from Malaysian manufacturing SMEs. European Journal of Innovation Management.
Hossain, M. I., Ong, T. S., Tabash, M. I., & Teh, B. H. (2022). The panorama of corporate environmental sustainability and green values: evidence of Bangladesh. Environment, Development and Sustainability, 1-27.
Hossain, M. I., San, O. T., Ling, S. M., & Said, R. M. (2020). The Role of Environmental Awareness and Green Technological Usage to Foster Sustainable Green Practices in Bangladeshi Manufacturing SMEs. International Journal of Advanced Science and Technology. 29 (7s), 3115-3124.
Hossain, M. I., San, O. T., Ling, S. M., Said, R. M. & Teh. B. H. (2022). Nexus of Stakeholder Integration, Environmental Investment, Green Technology Adoption and Environmental Sustainability Practices: Evidence from Bangladesh Textile SMEs. Journal of Social Sciences and Humanities. 30 (1), 253 – 281. https://doi.org/10.47836/pjssh.30.1.14
Hossain, M. I., Teh, B. H., Chong, L. L., Ong, T. S., & Islam, M. T. (2022). Green Human Resource Management, Top Management Commitment, Green Culture, and Green Performance of Malaysian Palm Oil Companies. International Journal of Technology, 13(5), 1106-1114.
Hossain, M. I., Teh, B. H., Dorasamy, M., Tabash, M. I., & Ong, T. S. (2023, May). Ethical Leadership, Green HRM Practices and Environmental Performance of Manufacturing SMEs at Selangor, Malaysia: Moderating Role of Green Technology Adoption. In International Scientific Conference on Business and Economics (pp. 85-104). Cham: Springer Nature Switzerland.
Hossain, M. I., Teh, B. H., Tabash, M. I., Alam, M. N., & San Ong, T. (2022). Paradoxes on sustainable performance in Dhaka’s enterprising community: A moderated-mediation evidence from textile manufacturing SMEs. Journal of Enterprising Communities: People and Places in the Global Economy, 18(2), 145-173.
Hossain, M. I., Teh, B. H., Tabash, M. I., Chong, L. L., & Ong, T. S. (2024). Unpacking the role of green smart technologies adoption, green ambidextrous leadership, and green innovation behaviour on green innovation performance in Malaysian manufacturing companies. FIIB Business Review, 23197145231225335.
Hussein, S. (2024). Reconciling industrialization and environmental protection for sustainable development in Bangladesh: The textile and apparel industry case. European Journal of Sustainable Development Research, 8, em0245. https://doi.org/10.29333/ejosdr/13923
Islam, M. M. (2023). Effective tobacco control measures in Bangladesh require a whole-of-government approach. Policy Design and Practice, 7, 1–9.
https://doi.org/10.1080/25741292.2023.2237652
Ismail, A. G., Markom, R., & Abdul Ghafar, N. H. (2024). Mapping Sustainable Development Goals and Constitutional Rules: Looking from Human Rights Approach in Malaysia. Journal of Sustainable Economics, 2(1), 41–57. https://doi.org/10.32734/jse.v2i1.16663
Jadhav, S., & Yannawar, Dr. V. (2022). Environmental Degradation and Violations of Human Rights. International Journal for Research in Applied Science and Engineering Technology, 10, 2223–2227. https://doi.org/10.22214/ijraset.2022.48447
Jawad, A., Akhter, S., & Hamid, A. (2022). A Critique on The Construction of Environmental Rights as A Human Right in Pakistan: A New Dimension in the 21st Century. Pakistan Journal of Social Research, 04. https://doi.org/10.52567/pjsr.v4i04.830
Jayatharan, M., Hermawan, A. A., Talei, A., & Zahidi, I. (2022). The impact of urbanisation on catchment discharge in Malaysia: A case study on Sungai Selangor catchment. Proceedings of the 6th International Conference on Civil Engineering, ICOCE 2022, - Innovations in Civil Engineering, 268–280. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-19-3983-9_24
Khubalkar, D., Bhatia, H., Desai, S., & Jaisingh, Y. (2022). Economic Development Vis A Vis Environmental Justice: A Study with Reference to The Draft Environmental Impact Assessment, 2020. Russian Law Journal, 10(4), Article 4.
https://doi.org/10.52783/rlj.v10i4.279
Kobylarz, N. (2018). The European Court of Human Rights, an Underrated Forum for Environmental Litigation (SSRN Scholarly Paper 3178983).
https://papers.ssrn.com/abstract=3178983
Larsen, P., Le Billon, P., Menton, M., Aylwin, J., Balsiger, J., Boyd, D., Forst, M., Lambrick, F., Santos, C., Storey, H., & Wilding, S. (2020). Understanding and responding to the environmental human rights defenders crisis: The case for conservation action. Conservation Letters. https://doi.org/10.1111/conl.12777
Long, B., Grein, G., Boedicker, N., & Singh, R. (2016). Balancing conservation and development in Nepal’s protected area buffer zones. PARKS, 22(2), 83–93. https://doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.CH.2016.PARKS-22-2BL.en
Lubaba, T. (2023). Corporate Responsibility to Protect Human Rights: Evaluating the Legal Framework of Bangladesh in Light of International and Regional Standards (pp. 2011–2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-19-8388-7_140
Dian, M. A., Ikhsan, I., & Tinku Makmar Nizamuddin, T. I. M. (2022). Human Rights-Based Approach and Challenges in Malaysia’s Built Heritage Preservation. International Journal of Academic Research in Business and Social Sciences, 12, 174–182.
https://doi.org/10.6007/IJARBSS/v12-i8/14198
Mahmutovi?, O., & Veli?, S. (2023). Environmental Protection in the Field of Human Rights. Uprava, 14(1), Article 1. https://doi.org/10.53028/1986-6127.2023.14.1.112
Mamun, F., Ali, A., & Ali, M. (2020). Economic Development and Environmental Sustainability in Bangladesh: A Study on Sustainable Development Goals (SDG). Scholars Journal of Economics, Business and Management, 7, 313–319.
https://doi.org/10.36347/sjebm.2020.v07i09.005
Mapaco, L., Coetzer, J., Paweska, J., & Venter, E. (2012). An investigation into an outbreak of Rift Valley fever on a cattle farm in Bela-Bela, South Africa, in 2008. Journal of the South African Veterinary Association, 83, E1–E7. https://doi.org/10.4102/jsava.v83i1.132
Matharani, J. (2023). Exploring India’s Ecological Landscape on the Road to Environmental Personhood. Journal of Chemical Health Risks, 13(4s), Article 4s.
https://doi.org/10.52783/jchr.v13.i4s.764
Mohammad, N. (2014). Environmental Rights for Administering Clean and Healthy Environment towards Sustainable Development in Malaysia: A Case Study. International Journal of Business and Management, 9(8), p191.
https://doi.org/10.5539/ijbm.v9n8p191
Mueller, F. (2023). Mapping and assessing the Supreme Court of India’s jurisprudence on sustainable development in light of the SDGs: From Vellore Citizens Welfare Forum to Hanuman Laxman Aroskar. Asia Pacific Journal of Environmental Law, 25, 210–232. https://doi.org/10.4337/apjel.2022.02.04
Musa, M., Gao, Y., Rahman, P., Albattat, A., Ali, M. A. S., & Saha, S. K. (2024). Sustainable development challenges in Bangladesh: An empirical study of economic growth, industrialization, energy consumption, foreign investment, and carbon emissions—using dynamic ARDL model and frequency domain causality approach. Clean Technologies and Environmental Policy, 26(6), 1799–1823.
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10098-023-02680-3
Obergassel, W., Peterson, L., Mersmann, F., Schade, J., Hofbauer, J., & Mayrhofer, M. (2017). Human rights and the clean development mechanism: Lessons learned from three case studies. Journal of Human Rights and the Environment, 8, 51–71.
https://doi.org/10.4337/jhre.2017.01.03
Ogiemwonyi, O., Harun, A. B., Alam, M. N., Karim, A. M., Tabash, M. I., Hossain, M. I., & Ojuolape, M. A. (2020). Green product as a means of expressing green behaviour: A cross-cultural empirical evidence from Malaysia and Nigeria. Environmental Technology & Innovation, 20, 101055.
Ogiemwonyi, O., Harun, A., Hossain, M. I., & Karim, A. M. (2022). The Influence of Green Behaviour Using Theory of Planned Behaviour Approach: Evidence from Malaysia. Millennial Asia, 09763996221080508.
Otubu, A. (2010). Environmental Protection and Human Rights: An Overview of Current Trends. SSRN Electronic Journal. https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.1718380
Peters, B. (2020). The European Court of Human Rights and the Environment (SSRN Scholarly Paper 3668176). https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.3668176
Petersmann, M.-C. (2022). When Environmental Protection and Human Rights Collide: The Politics of Conflict Management by Regional Courts: 173 (New edition). Cambridge University Press.
Rahman, M. M. (2021). Assessing the Progress and Pitfalls of the Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change in Achieving SDGs in Bangladesh. Bangladesh Journal of Public Administration (BJPA), 29, 140–158. https://doi.org/10.36609/bjpa.v29i2.228
Ramalingam, S. (2024). Should Environmental Rights be a Constitutional Right in Malaysia? In R. Abdul Rahman, M. F. Labanieh, Md. Z. Haq, Z. Mohamed Yusoff, & A. S. Abd. Aziz (Eds.), Proceedings of the 12th UUM International Legal Conference 2023 (UUMILC 2023) (Vol. 15, pp. 361–373). Atlantis Press International BV.
https://doi.org/10.2991/978-94-6463-352-8_28
Regmi, M. R. (2020). Environmental degradation and sustainable measures: A case study of Nepal. Environmental Science: An Indian Journal.
https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/Environmental-degradation-and-sustainable-measures%3A-Regmi/899caea255ae73886489d9e3cdb8910edbead780
Salter, M., & Mason, J. (2007). Writing Law Dissertations: An Introduction and Guide to the Conduct of Legal Research. Pearson/Longman.
Shelton, D. (2010). Developing substantive environmental rights. Journal of Human Rights and the Environment, 1(1), 89–120. https://doi.org/10.4337/jhre.2010.01.05
Sodhi, I., & Saurabh, C. (2019). Environmental Protection and Conservation in India. SOCRATES, 7, 1. https://doi.org/10.5958/2347-6869.2019.00001.3
Stratan, A., Cautisanu, C., Hatmanu, M., & Mihai, C. (2018). Environmental Protection In The Context Of Sustainable Development. Comparative Analysis Across EU Countries. The USV Annals of Economics and Public Administration, 18(1(27)), 45–57.
Tignino, M., & Jara, D. (2024). Human rights law in the development of hydropower projects in a transboundary context. Frontiers in Climate, 6.
https://doi.org/10.3389/fclim.2024.1280239
Torraco, R. J. (2005). Writing Integrative Literature Reviews: Guidelines and Examples. Human Resource Development Review, 4(3), 356–367.
https://doi.org/10.1177/1534484305278283
Turaga, R. M. R. T. M. R., & Sugathan, A. S. (2022). Environmental Regulations in India. In The Oxford Encyclopedia of Environmental Economics. Oxford University Press. https://www.oxfordreference.com/display/10.1093/acref/9780190631918.001.0001/acref-9780190631918-e-417
Upadhyay, P. (2021). The Dichotomy of Rights and Development: A Rights-Based Approach to Development in Nepal. Journal of Political Science, 21, 62–74.
https://doi.org/10.3126/jps.v21i0.35264
Upadhyay, P. (n.d.). The Dichotomy of Rights and Development: A Rights-Based Approach to Development in Nepal | Semantic Scholar. Retrieved July 28, 2024, from https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/The-Dichotomy-of-Rights-and-Development%3A-A-Approach-Upadhyay/28867a5e3309c9c466c349e54bcece9f577b838e
Uprety, Y., Tiwari, A., Karki, S., Chaudhary, A., Yadav, R. K. P., Giri, S., Shrestha, S., Paudyal, K., & Dhakal, M. (2023). Characterization of Forest Ecosystems in the Chure (Siwalik Hills) Landscape of Nepal Himalaya and Their Conservation Need. Forests, 14(1), Article 1. https://doi.org/10.3390/f14010100
Vedula, A., & Bodhankar, S. (2017). City in Crossfire—The Environment Versus Development Debate in Navi Mumbai. In S. Pellissery, B. Davy, & H. M. Jacobs (Eds.), Land Policies in India: Promises, Practices and Challenges (pp. 167–190). Springer.
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-10-4208-9_9
Wang, S., & Islam, M. Z. (2022). Legal institutional inefficiency and water pollution problem in Bangladesh. Resources and Environmental Economics, 4(2), Article 2. https://doi.org/10.25082/REE.2022.02.004
Zubaer, A. (2023). An Analysis of the Quality of Dhaka’s Potable Water and Sanitation Services. Journal of Environmental Issues and Climate Change, 2, 12–19. https://doi.org/10.59110/jeicc.v2i1.134
Hannan, M. A., & Shepherd, P. (2024). Sustainable Development and Environment Conservation: A Comparative Study on Protecting Environmental Human Rights. International Journal of Academic Research in Business and Social Sciences, 14(11), 515–532.
Copyright: © 2024 The Author(s)
Published by Knowledge Words Publications (www.kwpublications.com)
This article is published under the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY 4.0) license. Anyone may reproduce, distribute, translate and create derivative works of this article (for both commercial and non-commercial purposes), subject to full attribution to the original publication and authors. The full terms of this license may be seen at: http://creativecommons.org/licences/by/4.0/legalcode
