Environmental Law Lecture series
Welcome to the Environmental Law Lecture series! In this series, environmental law scholars will provide important insights into how EU environmental law helps to achieve a high level of environmental protection in the European Union and beyond.
The Rights of Future Generations and its institutionalization in Hungary
We borrow the Earth from future generations – this concept is widely accepted. It is a moral obligation, which might somehow be translated into legal language. But how it should be expressed? Shall we compose a set of rights of future generations or articulate duties for the current generations? Which one is better of what is even more important, which one is more practical? Who is taking care either for the rights or for the duties? The first part of the puzzle is how to formulate them, what should belong to the scope of these rights or duties – from precaution to public participation. The idea of having a guardian for future generations is on the current agenda of the UN.
The second part is the practice: exactly 15 years ago the office of the ombudsman for future generations has been established in Hungary, at that time an individual position. Later it has been converted into a deputy position – deputy of the commissioner of fundamental rights, still ombudsman for future generations. Consequently, we could demonstrate how the idea of a guardian (ombudsperson) for future generations might work, serving as an example how to come closer to a practical implementation of the idea.
Speaker: Prof. Dr. Gyula Bándi
Professor (also Jean Monnet professor) of environmental law at the Pázmány Péter Catholic University (see: ), author of more then 300 publications in this field. Ombudsman for future generations of Hungary for the term 2017-2023, reelected by the Parliament for a next round (2023-2029)
Lecture Series
This lecture is part of a series that runs from 2023 to 2024, providing students and scholars with core insights into the current state of EU environmental law and how it can be improved to achieve greater environmental protection. All lectures will be recorded and made accessible through YouTube, and the series is freely accessible to all.
If you'd like to know more about the other upcoming lectures:
This GreenDeal-Net lecture serie is hosted by MCEL, METRO and organised in cooperation with GLaw-Net and GreenDeal-NET. Maastricht University students will be eligible for certificates of attendance (see more information under the registration link).