Author(s): Nkongho A Elizabeth

Abstract: This paper seeks to address the debate on human rights and sustainable development as against environmental protection. Guaranteeing all basic or fundamental rights of indigenes may clash with protection of the environment in that, the unlimited and uncontrolled enjoyment of human rights linked to the environment may in effect be irrational. For instance, the struggle to absolutely conserve endangered species may simply amount to the violation of the right to food; the specie in question being the local meal of the people and/or the right to culture, if the specie is killed and its skin or organs are used for traditional and cultural purposes. How then can reconciliation be made between the two? It is first of all necessary to address the relationship between human rights and the environment before reviewing the economic advantages [1]. Once such a question arises, it becomes difficult to settle the primary question without settling the secondary because the solution to the primary question is dependent on how the secondary question is resolved. If there is no nexus between the two fields, the supposed clash probably wouldn’t arise. While sustainable development is a major objective for any country, it is imperative to determine the practice and its merit.The objective here is to see the role of environmental human rights on sustainable development of those living in the particular areas; the methodology used consists of collection and treatment of secondary data. The article examines the effect of environmental degradation and climate change on the rights of persons living in forest areas of Cameroon. The outcome will show how these two ideals are necessary for sustainable development in an emerging economy like Cameroon’s. The paper will also help not only environmentalists and legal scholars but also serve as a working tool for scholars of related fields of study as well as the general public.

Pages: 48-54 | Views: 461 | Downloads: 177

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