International Legal Mechanisms for Environmental Protection: From Conventional Obligation to International Responsibility as a Pillar of Solidarity Rights

Abstract

Environmental Citizenship within the Framework of International Environmental Law: International Obligations as a Mechanism for Protecting Solidarity Rights Environmental citizenship represents a pivotal concept linking the individual and the international community in facing contemporary ecological challenges. This research aims to clarify the nature of legal obligations imposed by international environmental agreements on states, and how these obligations have transformed from mere sovereign texts into effective tools for protecting "Solidarity Rights" (Third-Generation Rights). The research finds that states' obligations to adopt legislative and administrative measures, including Environmental Impact Assessments (EIA), aim not only to protect natural resources but to safeguard the rights to life and health for present and future generations, viewing the environment as a common heritage of mankind. Furthermore, the study highlights the evolution of international responsibility for transboundary environmental damage, moving from the traditional fault-based model to strict objective liability based on risk. It emphasizes the importance of the "Aarhus Convention" in empowering the individual as an international legal actor through the right to access information and participation in decision-making. The study concludes that environmental citizenship is the cornerstone for balancing the hierarchy of rights, where protecting human existence and resource sustainability takes precedence over immediate developmental interests. This necessitates the activation of international accountability mechanisms to ensure environmental justice across nations and generationsا