Human Rights Approaches to Planetary Crises

Reviews / Votes

"In this timely and essential new book, Samvel Varvastian brilliantly analyzes the transformative potential of using human rights, especially the right to a healthy environment, to address today's planetary crisis. Deep dives into the climate emergency and pervasive plastic pollution offer extensive insights, generating hope and urgency." Dr David R. Boyd, Former UN Special Rapporteur on the human right to healthy environment, Associate Professor of Law, Policy, and Sustainability, University of British Columbia, Canada.

"Sam Varvastian's masterful book is an essential resource for scholars, litigators and others interested in understanding the utility of burgeoning rights-based litigation to address existential planetary crises, such as climate change and plastic pollution. Covering more than 20 years of case law, and examples from over 30 jurisdictions-both in the Global South and the Global North-the work provides a balanced understanding of the viability of rights claims while also offering hope that they can make a difference to addressing planetary crises through a range of different legal avenues." Professor Jacqueline Peel, Professor of Law, Melbourne Law School, Director, Melbourne Climate Futures, The University of Melbourne, Australia.

"In explaining how advocates and courts around the world have developed rights-based approaches to global environmental crises, Sam Varvastian manages to be both nuanced and very engaging. This book is not only an excellent guide to the rapidly evolving jurisprudence; it also helps to illuminate possible paths forward." Professor John H. Knox, First UN Special Rapporteur on human rights and the environment, Henry C. Lauerman Professor of International Law, Wake Forest University School of Law, United States.