Employees' Right to a Pollution-Free Working Environment in the Context of Articles 2 and 8 of the ECHR
The recognition that climate change is one of humanity's main problems justifies the search for mechanisms conducive to environmental protection at all possible levels. One is the employee-employer relationship and the related right to a pollution-free working environment. When considering the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms (ECHR), it should be noted that it does not contain provisions relating explicitly to environmental protection. However, this does not mean that environmental issues are outside its scope of interest. Over the years, the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) has issued several judgments concerning the environment, indicating that when environmental pollution directly affects an individual, there may be a violation of Article 2 of the ECHR. At the same time, on many occasions, the ECtHR has considered the human right to a pollution-free environment not only from the perspective of the right to life but also in close connection with the human right to respect for private and family life (Article 8 ECHR). In our opinion, some of the ECtHR's views formulated in the judgments on the interface between human rights (Article 2 and Article 8 ECHR) and environmental protection can be applied directly to the employeremployee relationship.
References
Bibliografia/References
Ales, E. (2015). Occupational Health and Safety: a European and Comparative Legal Perspective, WP C.S.D.L.E. "Massimo D'Antona". INT, 120, 1–44.
Barański, M. (2021). Artificial intelligence in the workplace through the prism of Article 8 of the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms, in Martín L.M., Załucki M. (Eds.), Artificial Intelligence and Human Rights, Dykinson.
Barański, M. (2022). Initial remarks on artificial intelligence and axiological foundations of labour law, Studia z Zakresu Prawa Pracy i Polityki Społecznej, 2, 85–93
Barański M., Jaworska, K., Piszczek, A. (2023a). "Bumpy way" to green transformation in Poland. Government passivity and search for solutions in labour law, in Sariipek D.B., Franca V. (Eds.), Digital and Green Transition: New perspectives on work organization, Dora Yayinlari.
Barański, M., Jaworska, K., Piszczek, A. (2023b). Labour law of the 20th century as a response to the climate crisis in Poland. Pro-climate attitudes versus the obligations of the parties to the employment relationship, Studia z Zakresu Prawa Pracy i Polityki Społecznej, 4, 295–308.
Doorey, D. J. (2016). A Law of Just Transitions?: Putting Labor Law to Work on Climate Change, Osgoode Legal Studies Research Paper Series, 12, 1–49.
Downs, J. A. (1993). A Healthy and Ecologically Balanced Environment: an Argument for a Third Generation Right, Duke Journal of Comparative & International Law, 3, 351–385.
Gerards, J. (2019). General Principles of the European Convention on Human Rights, Cambridge.
Hilgertt, J. (2013). The Future of Workplace Health and Safety as a Fundamental Human Right, Compar. Labor Law & Pol'y Journal, 34, 715–736.
Hendrickx, F., & van Bever A. (2013). Article 8 ECHR: Judicial Patterns of Employment Privacy Protection, in Dorssemont F., Lörcher K. & Schömann I. (eds.), The European Convention on Human Rights and the Employment Relation, Bloomsbury Publishing.
ILO (2018). The employment impact of climate change adaptation. Input Document for the G20 Climate Sustainability Working Group.
Kamiński, I. C. (2016). Prawo do uzyskania informacji w Europejskiej Konwencji Praw człowieka – cicha strasburska rewolucja, Problemy Współczesnego Prawa Międzynarodowego, Europejskiego i Porównawczego, 14, 9–27.
Loucaides, L. G. (2007). The European Convention on Human Rights, BRILL.
Otto, M. (2016). The Right to Privacy in Employment. A Comparative Analysis, Hart Publishing.
Rhodes, A. (2022). How "Collective Human Rights" Undermine Individual Human Rights, SPECIAL REPORT, 227.
Riedel, E. (1990). Trzecia generacja praw człowieka jako strategia urzeczywistniania praw politycznych i społecznych, Ruch Prawniczy, Ekonomiczny i Socjologiczny, 3–4, 115–129.
Schabas, W. A. (2015). The European Convention on Human Rights: A Commentary, Oxford University Press.
Serghides, G. A. (2017). The Principle of Effectiveness in the European Convention on Human Rights, in Particular its Relationship to the other Convention Principles, Hague Yearbook of International Law/Annuaire de La Haye de Droit International, 30, 1–16.
Stoczkiewicz, M. (2021). Prawo ochrony klimatu w kontekście praw człowieka, Wolters Kluwer Polska.
