The Significance of European Human Rights Approach in the Effectiveness of Climate Change Related Policies
[Thesis]
Bellek, Bengü
Ertan, İzzet Mert
Marmara Universitesi (Turkey)
2019
79 p.
Master's
Marmara Universitesi (Turkey)
2019
Even though climate change is one of the most important problems humanity is facing in recent years, states fail to take necessary measures and fulfil their obligations to protect their citizens against the threats caused by climate change. The European Union, however, can be excluded from this because of researches that have been conducted on climate change and its human rights implications and even decisions by courts on this matter. Negative consequences of climate change on human rights have become apparent lately and states' inaction forced people affected by this to take the matter to courts. Even the European Union itself has been a party of such cases due to its incompliance with its obligations in the fight against climate change. In the scope of this research, climate change and environment policy of the European Union will be analysed, historical development and current situation of these policies will be put forward. Following this analysis, the relationship between climate change and the affected human rights will be explained. At this stage, EU legislation and related literature have to be looked into. At the final section of the research, related case law will be reviewed, Court of Justice's views on this matter and whether the human rights approach makes law a more effective tool will be discussed. With this research, I am aiming to find the most effective way to deal with climate change, giving the European Union as an example. As an important actor in the fight against climate change, the EU's way of handling the matter and with which procedures it encourages member states to comply with their obligations may have an effect on the policies of other developed countries.