The International Dimension of the Environment as a Legal Entity: The Human Rights of the Sustainable Consumer in an Ecological Perspective

The chapter focuses on the environment as the foundation of a Sustainable Circular Economy. In this sense, it is argued that the environment, meant as ‘us’, including humanity, non-human animals, and natural objects, is not only an element of sustainability as it has been traditionally conceived, but constitutes, in itself, the foundation of sustainability and therefore of a Sustainable Circular Economy. Such a paradigm transition implies rethinking the relationship between economy and environment, entailing a reflection about the human role and its relevant impact on nature. In this reflection, the right to a healthy environment, which opens a new perspective that construes environment not as a mere resource but as an autonomous legal entity, is particularly relevant. Some examples will be provided in that respect: from the recognition of a right to a healthy environment in constitutions and policies, to the elaboration of a theory on ‘blue planet law’. The chapter will reflect on the right to a healthy environment that is more than a human right, and that recognizes the schemes of oppression of a part of humanity on natural elements. The consumers in Western societies have contributed to the exploitation of nature through the activities of transnational corporations, but also through overconsumption, lack of awareness of the importance of recycling and waste reduction, the impact of the exploitative animal agriculture, and replicated a model of oppression that should be read through a post-colonial perspective. Consumers are not a monolithic category but rather a category that changes according to time and space. Human rights law can be read in an ecological perspective to understand that the rights of the consumers are both contextualised and universal and must be considered in their relation to nature. The chapter conceptualises the idea of a sustainable consumer, that is well informed of the effects of his/her behaviour on humanity, non-human animals and nature.