The history of human rights suggests that individuals should be empowered in their natural, political, political, social and economic vulnerabilities. States within the international arena hold each other responsible for doing just that and support or interfere where necessary. States are to protect these essential human vulnerabilities, even when this is not a matter of self-interest. This function of human rights is recognized in contexts of intervention, genocide, humanitarian aid and development.

This book develops the idea of environmental obligations as long-term responsibilities in the context of human rights. It proposes that human rights require recognition that, in the face of unsustainable conduct, future human persons are exposed and vulnerable. It explores the obstacles for long-term responsibilities that human rights law provides at the level of international and national law and challenges the question of whether lifestyle restrictions are enforceable in view of liberties and levels of wellbeing typically seen as protected by human rights.

The book will be of interest to postgraduates studying Human Rights, Sustainability, Law and Philosophy.

"This is a highly valuable contribution which lays the groundwork for theorising about environmental concerns from a normative perspective and will be of great benefit to students and scholars from various backgrounds." – Intergenerational Justice Review, 2016

Gerhard Bos is a postdoctoral researcher at Utrecht University. Marcus Düwell is the Director of the Ethics Institute at Utrecht University.