In an unprecedented and far-reaching decision that was made public on Feb. 7, the Inter-American Court of Human Rights ruled that a healthy environment is “fundamental to the existence of humanity” and that states must take all measures to protect against environmental degradation, even when the harm is experienced across national borders. Legal experts say the decision, which lists the environmental obligations of the 25 signatories to the 1969 American Convention on Human Rights, will give states and communities legal tools to combat harms related to everything from mining projects to marine contamination and climate change. “This is the most important environmental decision ever by the Court,” says Astrid Puentes, co-executive director of the Inter-American Association for Environmental Defense (AIDA) in... [Log in to read more]