Human rights and the environment have become increasingly interconnected. This manual seeks to contribute to a better understanding of this relationship in the light of the relevant case-law of the European Court of Human Rights.

Whilst the European Convention on Human Rights does not guarantee a specific right to a healthy environment, the general standards deriving from it may also apply to environmental matters. The European Court of Human Rights regularly examines complaints in which individuals argue that a breach of their Convention rights is the result of adverse environmental factors. The aim of this manual is to present the principles flowing from this case-law in a systematic and accessible way. It has been prepared by government experts from all forty-six member states of the Council of Europe.

The manual is intended to be of practical use not only for public authorities, but also decision-makers, legal professionals and the general public.

The Council of Europe has forty-six member states, covering virtually the entire continent of Europe. It seeks to develop common democratic and legal principles based on the European Convention on Human Rights and other reference texts on the protection of individuals. Ever since it was founded in 1949, in the aftermath of the second world war, the Council of Europe has symbolised reconciliation.