Litigating Industrial Air Pollution in The Netherlands: The Impact of The European Court of Human Rights
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.33002/jelp050101Keywords:
Industrial air pollution; European Court of Human Rights; Public Opinion; The Netherlands; HealthAbstract
This article will focus on how the development of the European Human Rights Convention (ECHR) by the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) prompted Dutch environmental movements and citizens to rely on the ECHR to reduce industrial air pollution. It will further examine the decisive role of human rights in legal proceedings concerning industrial air pollution between environmental movements and affected individuals and the State and/or business entities. The impact of the developing case law by the ECtHR on Dutch cases such as the Air Quality cases, the Urgenda case and the Shell cases will be considered. This article will consider the effects of changing public opinion and scientific developments to understand the changing role of the ECHR in the Netherlands.
References
Barkhuysen, T., “Het EVRM als integraal onderdeel van het Nederlandse materiële bestuursrecht” (Den Haag: Boom Juridische uitgevers, 2004), p.7-113 at 94-96
Barkhuysen, T., Het EVRM als integraal onderdeel van het Nederlandse materiële bestuursrecht. (Den Haag: Boom Juridische uitgevers, 2004), p.7-113 at 48-49
Barton, H. & Grant, M., “A health map for the local human habitat” (2006) 126 (6) Journal of the Royal Society for the Promotion of Health 252-3
Bergstra, A. D., Been, J. V., & Burdorf, A., “The association of specific industry-related air pollution with occurrence of chronic diseases: A register-based study” (2022) Environ Res. 209
Buijsman, E., ‘Smog de maat genomen. Een terugblik op smog in Nederland, 1960-2010’ (2012) 2 Lucht. <https://doi.org/10.13140/RG.2.2.28597.93922>
Çalı, B., “The Balancing Test: European Court of Human Rights”, Max Planck Encyclopedia of International Law. (Oxford: Oxford Public International Law, 2018)
Council of Europe, Guide to the case-law of the European Court of Human Rights. Environment. (Strassbourg: Council of Europe, 2022)
de Jong, E., “Rechterlijke risicoregulering en het EVRM: over drempels om de civiele rechter als risicoreguleerder te laten optreden” (2018) 43 (2) NTM-NJCMBull
den Ridder, J. & Dekker, P., “Publieke opinie”. In: A. Wennekers, J Boelhouwer, C. Campen, J Kullberg, editors. De sociale staat van Nederland 2019. (Den Haag: Sociaal en Cultureel Planbureau, 2019 at 61-63)
Economieredactie, ‘Chemours doet weer incomplete vergunningsaanvraag voor meer pfas-uitstoot’, (2024) NUnl
ECtHR, “The Convention as a Living Instrument at 70”. In: Judicial Seminar 2020 BD, editor. (Strassbourg: ECtHR, 2020)
EEA, “Assessing air quality through citizen science” (Copenhagen: European Environmental Agency, 2019)
EEAa, “Netherlands - air pollution country fact sheet” (2023)
EEAb, “Netherlands - air pollution country fact sheet” (2023)
Fleurke, F. M., Commentaar op Artikel 21 van de Grondwet (Tilburg: Tilburg University, 2014 at 1). <https://pure.uvt.nl/ws/portalfiles/portal/27007969/NLrechtsstaat_GWartikel21_1_.pdf>
FrisseWind.Nu, “Frissewindnu: voor een gezonde IJmond”, (2024) <https://www.frissewind.nu>
Fuller, R., Landrigan, P. J., Balakrishnan, K., Bathan, G., Bose-O'Reilly, S., Brauer, M., et al., “Pollution and health: a progress update”, (2022) 6 (6) Lancet Planet Health e535-e47
Geelen, L., Bogers, R., Elberse, J., Houthijs, D., Montforts, M., Schuijff, M., et al., “De bijdrage van Tata Steel Nederland aan de gezondheidsrisico's van omwonenden en de kwaliteit van hun leefomgeving.” (The contribution of Tata Steel to the health risks of local residents and the quality of their surroundings), (2023) Rijksinstituut voor Volksgezondheid en Milieu RIVM
Gerards, J., “Grondrechten in de Nederlandse rechtspraak” (2013) 3 Rechtstreeks 17-39 at 26
Gerards, J., “Grondrechten in de Nederlandse rechtspraak” (2013) 3 Rechtstreeks 17-39 at 30
Howarth, D., “Environmental Law and Private Law” In: E. Lees, J.E Viñuales JE, editors. The Oxford Handbook of Comparative Environmental Law. (Oxford University Press, 2019), p.0
Jasanoff, S., “Serviceable truths: Science for action in law and policy” (2015) 93 Texas Law Review 1723-49
Kantar, “Attitudes of Europeans towards air quality” (2019); Kantar, “Attitudes of Europeans towards air quality” (2022)
Kelly, F. J. & Buijsman, E., “Smog de maat genomen. Een terugblik op smog in Nederland, 1960-2010”, (2012) 2 Lucht.
Kelly, F. J. & Fussell, J. C., “Air pollution and public health: emerging hazards and improved understanding of risk” (2015) 37 (4) Environ Geochem Health 631-649 at 640
Kelly, F. J. & Fussell, J. C., “Air pollution and public health: emerging hazards and improved understanding of risk” (2015) 37 (4) Environ Geochem Health. 631-649 at 633-635
Kelly, F. J. & Fussell, J.C., “Air pollution and public health: emerging hazards and improved understanding of risk” (2015) 37 (4) Environ Geochem Health 631-649 at 638
Kim, J., Sovacool, B. K., Bazilian, M., Griffiths, S., Lee, J., Yang, M., et al., “Decarbonizing the iron and steel industry: A systematic review of sociotechnical systems, technological innovations, and policy options” (2022) Energy Research & Social Science 89
Kraan, J., “Zaak over milieuboetes Tata Steel kan grote gevolgen hebben voor vergroening” (2024) NUnl Krommendijk, J., “Beyond Urgenda: The role of the ECHR and judgments of the ECtHR in
Dutch environmental and climate litigation” (2021) 31 Review of European, Comparative & International Environmental Law 60-74
Letsas, G., “ECHR as a living instrument: its meaning and legitimacy” in: Føllesdal A, Peters B, Ulfstein G, editors. Constituting Europe: The European Court of Human Rights in a National, European and Global Context. Studies on Human Rights Conventions. (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2013), p. 106-41
Letsas, G., “The ECHR as a living instrument: its meaning and legitimacy”. In: A. Føllesdal, B. Peters, G Ulfstein editors. Constituting Europe: The European Court of Human Rights in a National, European and Global Context. Studies on Human Rights Conventions. (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2013 at 2)
Limon, M., “The Politics of Human Rights, the Environment, and Climate Change at the Human Rights Council: Toward a Universal Right to a Healthy Environment?” In: J.H Knox, R. Pejan, editors The Human Right to a Healthy Environment. (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2018). p. 189-214
Lintsen, H. & Smits, J. P., “The Long-Term Development: In Search of a Balance”. In: H. Lintsen, F. Veraart, J. P. Smits, J. Grin, editors. Well-being, Sustainability and Social Development: The Netherlands 1850–2050. (Cham: Springer International Publishing, 2018), p. 483-508 at 485
Lintsen, H., & Veraart, F., “The Tensions between Well-Being and Sustainability. Well-being and Sustainability Around 2010” in: H. Lintsen, F. Veraart, J.P. Smits, J. Grin, editors. Well-being, Sustainability and Social Development: The Netherlands 1850–2050. (Cham: Springer International Publishing, 2018, p. 459-79)
Milieudefensie, “About Milieudefensie” (2024). <https://en.milieudefensie.nl/about-us>
Miller, C. A., “Fifty years of EPA science for air quality management and control”, (2021) 67 Environmental Management 1017-28.
MOB, “Stand van zaken in dossier Tata Steel” (2023) <https://mobilisation.nl/index.php?id=65>
Nas, M., “Duurzaam milieu, vergankelijke aandacht: Een onderzoek naar meningen, media en milieu” (Den Haag: Sociaal en Cultureel Planbureau, 2000)
Nas, M., Dekker, P. & Hemmers, C., “Maatschappelijke organisaties, publieke opinie en milieu 9Social organization, public opinion and the environment)” (Rijswijk: Sociaal en Cultureel Planbureau (SCP), 1997)
NEA, ‘Emissiecijfers 2021-2022 Den Haag: Nederlandse Emissieautoriteit’, (2024) <https://www.emissieautoriteit.nl/documenten/publicatie/2022/04/14/emissiecijfers-2021>
NOS, ‘Honderden klimaatactivisten op terrein Tata Steel in Velsen-Noord Hilversums: Nederlandse Omroep Stichting’, (2023) <https://nos.nl/artikel/2476011-publiek-kan-zelf-uitstoot-tata-steel-in-de-gaten-houden-met-webcams>
OM, “OM eist geldboete van 150.000 euro tegen Tata Steel IJmuiden B.V.: Openbaar Ministerie (OM)” (2022) <https://www.om.nl/actueel/nieuws/2022/12/22/om-eist-geldboete-van-150.000-euro-tegen-tata-steel-ijmuiden-b.v#:~:text=Het%20Openbaar%20Ministerie%20(OM)%20eiste,2018%20tot%20en%20met%202021>
Pedersen, O.W., “The European Court of Human Rights and International Environmental Law” In: J.H. Knox, R. Pejan, editors. The Human Right to a Healthy Environment. (Cambridge UK: Cambridge University Press, 2018, p. 86-96)
Sap, J. W., “De verankering van mensenrechten in Europa en Nederland werd geïnspireerd door Amerika” (2009) Groniek (September 2009) 145-160. <https://research.vu.nl/en/publications/de-verankering-van-mensenrechten-in-europa-en-nederland-werd-ge%C3%AFn>
Schols, E., “De invloed van Corus op de luchtkwaliteit in de leefomgeving”. Deelrapport 1 in de reeks rapporten over de invloed van uitstoot van Corus op de omgeving (The impact of Corus on the air quality in the living environment. Part report 1 in the series of reports on the impact of Corus emissions on the environment). (Bilthoven: RIVM, 2009). <https://www.rivm.nl/bibliotheek/rapporten/609021079.pdf>
Shelton, D., “Complexities and Uncertainties in Matters of Human Rights and the Environment: Identifying the Judicial Role” In: J.H. Knox, R. Pejan, editors. The Human Right to a Healthy Environment. (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2018), p. 97-121 at 111-112
Shelton, D., “Describing the elephant: international justice and environmental law”. In: Ebbesson J, Okowa P, editors. Environmental Law and Justice in Context. (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2009), p. 55-75
Smeehuijzen, J. L., “De veroordeling van Shell tot 45% CO2-reductie in 2030” (2022) 8 Nederlands Juristenblad 540-548
Stoyanova, V., “Causation between State Omission and Harm within the Framework of Positive Obligations under the ECHR” (2018) 18 Human Rights Law Review309-46
Theil, S., “Is the 'Living Instrument' Approach of the European Court of Human Rights Compatible with the ECHR and International Law?” (2017) 23 (3) European Public Law 587-614 at 493
Theil, S., “Is the 'Living Instrument' Approach of the European Court of Human Rights Compatible with the ECHR and International Law?” (2017) 23 (3) European Public Law 587-614 at 161
Theil, S., Towards the Environmental Minimum: Environmental Protection through Human Rights. (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2021 at 138)
Theil, S., Towards the Environmental Minimum: Environmental Protection through Human Rights. (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2021 at 132)
TNS, Political & Social Attitudes of Europeans towards air quality (2013). van der Auweraert, R. & Brouwer. A., “Luchtemissiebeperkende technieken” (2022) Handreiking. TAUW
Van der Heijden, H. A., “De milieubeweging in de twintigste eeuw. Belgisch Tijdschrift voor Nieuwste Gechiedenis (The environmental movement in the twentieth century)”, (2004) 3 Belgian Journal of Contemporary History 445-83
Veiligheid Ovd, “Industrie en omwonenden: Onderzoeksraad voor de Veiligheid” (2023)
Verbeek-Oudijk, D., Hardus, S. Broek, A., & Reijnders, M., “Sociale en Culturele Ontwikkelingen” (2023) Stand van Nederland90
Verschuuren, J. M., “Invloed van het EVRM op het materiele omgevingsrecht in Nederland.” In VAR-reeks 132. De betekenis van het EVRM voor het materiele bestuursrecht. (Boom Juridsiche Uitgevers, 2004), p.253-312 at 286-288
Verschuuren, J., “The Constitutional Right to the Protection of the Environment in the Netherlands” (1994) Revue Juridique de l'Environnement 82-83
Villiger, M. E., Handbook on the European Convention on Human Rights. (Brill, Nijhoff, 2022)
Downloads
Additional Files
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2025 Author(s)
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
