scholarly journals Interests of Future Generations, Environmental Protection and the Fundamental Law

2020 ◽  
Vol 15 (29) ◽  
pp. 7-22
Author(s):  
Gyula Bándi

The Fundamental Law of Hungary has a special focus on sustainable development, the protection of the interests of future generations and the common heritage of the nation. The ombudsman for future generation is a special and unique institution, responsible for the safeguard of these issues. The primary mission of the ombudsman is to remind the state, including all the state organs and levels, of this task and responsibility, also to propose legislation and to examine individual complaints. In this article we provide a breif overview of those part of the Fundamental Law, which are well-equipped by the decisions of the Constitutional Court. Among others is is clear from the above cases, that everyone has a three-fold obligation towards the interest of the future generation: conservation of options, conservation of quality, and conservation of access. These are supported by the principle of non-derogation and also by the wide interpretation of precautionary principle, in connection with the fundamental right to the environment.

2020 ◽  
Vol 15 (29) ◽  
pp. 104-117
Author(s):  
Péter Hegyes ◽  
Csaba Varga

The purpose of the paper is to introduce the legal practices of the Constitutional Court in connection with the ‘sustainability clause’ of the Fundamental Law in relation to natural resources. Subsection (1) of Article P) of the Fundamental Law is in the centre of the research, according to which: „Natural resources, in particular arable land, forests and the reserves of water, biodiversity, in particular native plant and animal species, as well as cultural assets shall corm the common heritage of the nation; it shall be the obligation of the State and everyone to protect and maintain them, and to preserve them for future generations.”


2021 ◽  
Vol 2 (3) ◽  
pp. 342-349

Összefoglaló. A biztonságpolitika és a környezetvédelem egyre fontosabbá váló közös kérdése a környezetbiztonság, a környezettel összefüggésben jelentkező veszélyhelyzetek, konfliktusok, válságok kezelése, lehetőség szerint megelőzése, hiszen azok a környezeti, társadalmi, gazdasági rendszerek stabilitását súlyosan megzavarják. Környezetbiztonságról akkor kerül szó, amikor a környezet terhelése, erőforrások felhasználása az elfogadhatónak tartott mértéket meghaladja. Erre példa, amikor ez környezeti migrációt vált ki vagy közreműködik vírusok terjedésében. Kiemelt kérdéseink egyike a jövő nemzedékek biztonságának veszélyeztetése, akiknek sorsa a mai generációk kezében van, számunkra jelent tehát kötelezettségeket. Az egyre szélesebb értelmet nyerő fenntartható fejlődés gondolata is e köré épül, erkölcsi értéket is megjelenítve egyben. A környezetvédelem és egyidejűleg a környezetbiztonság rendelkezésére álló számos eszköz, intézmény sorában – második részletesebben vizsgált kérdésként – előkelő helye van az elővigyázatosság elvének, hozzásegítve, hogy a lehető legkorábban próbáljuk kezelni a kockázatot jelentő helyzeteket, nem várva a teljes tudományos bizonyosságra azok létét illetően. Kiemelt témáink révén képet kapunk a kérdéskör komplexitásáról, sajátos összefüggéseinek rendszeréről, elhelyezve mindezt a környezetbiztonság egészében. Summary. Environmental security is unquestionably a vital element of both security and environmental policy, having a growing importance. This covers the management of conflicts, connected with environmental problems, the prevention and managing of crisis situations, which might seriously threaten the stability of environmental, social and economic systems in local, regional, national and global level. We may even assume that the effects of environmental degradation might always lead to possible conflicts, but the major delimitation is the extent. For example, one may mention environmental migration or the environmental implications of the current pandemic, due to the uncontrolled interaction between mankind and the natural environment. Environmental protection is a part of sustainable development, having ecological orientation. The most important constituents of sustainable development are inter- and intragenerational equity, both having a fundamental moral value. Environmental security is not only the enigma of the current generation but is connected to a great extent with the interests of future generations, who have no real influence on their own situation, as their destiny is in the hands of the current generation. The most suitable response should be to indicate the obligations of the current generation to protect the rights of the next ones. The Fundamental Law of Hungary is clear in this respect, placing future generations in the centre, among others in Article P). The substance of these references is clarified in the decisions of the Constitutional Court, using among others non-retrogression principle as a starting point. The latest decisions also refer to the precautionary principle as a major point of reference, which is a rational tool for both environmental security issues and for the protection of the rights of future generations. The precautionary principle means that we should control risky situations at the earliest possible stage, preceding the duty of prevention, not waiting till the full scientific certainty becomes reality. This requirement should form the basis of any activity having the chance for significant pollution, degradation, or generating a crisis situation. According to the Constitutional Court even the state – which has a primary responsibility in this respect – must take special care for the careful assessment of risks and should take all the available measures to avoid negative consequences. The Court also underlined that the precautionary principle has a constitutional character, based upon the rights of future generations.


2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (31) ◽  
pp. 130-144
Author(s):  
János Ede Szilágyi

The present study is inspired by the tenth anniversary of the new Hungarian Constitution, known under the name of Fundamental Law, which was adopted in 2011 and entered into force in 2012. In this study we analyse the ten-year old Fundamental Law and its constitutional practice with regard to the important challenges and tasks of the 21st century, namely how the protection of the interests of future generations and the environment are reflected in it. Particularly important elements of the study are (a) the institutional guarantees of the relevant provisions, such as the provisions relating to the Constitutional Court and the Advocate of Future Generations, (b) the concept of GMO-free agriculture in the Fundamental Law, (c) the theses of the Constitutional Court practice on the prohibition of retrogression and the precautionary principle, (d) new interpretative frameworks and possibilities arising from other values of the Fundamental Law, such as the provisions on Christian culture, (e) the open questions of interpretation of the Fundamental Law on waste and the environmental liability regime, (f) the priority protection of natural resources, which are the common heritage of the nation, and last but not least (g) the particularly forward-looking integration of the interests of future generations in the rules on public finances and national assets.


2019 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-12
Author(s):  
Luciana L. Nahumuri

The essence and urgency of government expenditure for regional development is very crucial in realizing sustainable development, meaning that government spending must meet current needs without compromising the fulfillment of the needs of future generations. The higher the state revenue, the higher the state expenditure for regional development. Thus, an increase in understanding of government expenditure for regional development in a sustainable manner must be carried out with the principle of prudence in this country.


2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (31) ◽  
pp. 99-120
Author(s):  
Flóra Orosz ◽  
Noémi Suri ◽  
Renáta Hrecska-Kovács ◽  
Péter Szőke

Environmental protection has become a burning issue which plays a more and more important role in the world. The aim of this study is to give a picture of the constitutional regulation of environmental protection which is the highest legal source of a nation. Besides the Hungarian Fundamental Law, the German, Italian and Belgian constitutions were examined in the study. On one hand, we looked into how environment is regulated in the constitutions, as a right (right to environment) or a state task or objective (protect the environment). On the other hand, we analysed how related regulatory subjects appear in the constitutions, such as natural resources, future generations and sustainable development.


Author(s):  
Emanuele Musa

The growing awareness of humanity's finite resources and recognition of the limitations of one-off projects are prompting step changes in development planning. Sustainable development addresses the limitations of current practices; its aim is to achieve the triple bottom line of economic prosperity, environmental quality and social equity, meeting the needs of present society without compromising resources for future generations. Collective intelligence is considered by both Charles Leadbeater (former advisor to Tony Blair) and MIT as one of the most powerful ways to tackle complex problems, like climate change. This chapter explores the principles of crowdsourcing, its applications and the main trends. It presents theories, practices and examples of the use of crowdsourcing to innovate in the area of sustainable development for the common good. It announces the rise of collective brain-power to the challenge of creating better and more effective forms of civic and social engagement to solve problems on a world scale.


2018 ◽  
Vol 1 (102) ◽  
pp. 79 ◽  
Author(s):  
José María Lafuente Balle

Resumen:El art. 155 de la Constitución regula la coerción federal (federal coercion) con un texto inspirado en el art. 37 de la Ley Fundamental de Bonn, si bien presenta alguna importante diferencia, particularmente por la distinta configuración electoral del Senado y el Bundesrat. Su redacción es un ejemplo característico de la ambigüedad propia de los preceptos constitucionales; y su interpretación padece de que carece de desarrollo legislativo y precedentes históricos. Con su Resolución de 27 de octubre de 2017, el Senado ha aplicado por vez primera el art. 155 por entender que la Generalitat había incurrido en desobediencia a la Constitución. La autorización al Gobierno central conllevó el cese del Gobierno de Cataluña y la posterior disolución del Parlamento autonómico. Dos han sido los recursos de inconstitucionalidad instados, respectivamente, por el grupo parlamentario de Unidos-Podemos y por la Diputación Permanente del Parlamento de Cataluña. En este trabajo se aborda su análisis jurídico y se arriesga el vaticinio de Sentencia que habrá de dictar el Tribunal Constitucional.Summary:1. Introduction: A highly political, ambiguous and vague rule; 2. Section 155 and regional tenseness. Examples of Comparative Law; 3. The unavoidable reference to the federal coercion in Germany. Section 155 and its comparison with section 37 of the Fundamental Law of Bonn; 4. The STGC of 5th of March, 1936; 5. The state coercion of section 155; 6. The former formal procedures to the state coercion of section 155; 7. The supposed facts in which section 155 is applicable; 8. The procedure of the state coercion; 9. The measures covered by section 155; 10. The exceptional political and legal application of section 155; 11. The injuction of the Spanish Government and the Order of the Spanish Senate of 27th of October, 2017; 12. The application of the state coercion of section 155 in Catalonia; 13. The procedural question of the judicial review of the Order of the Senate; 14. The motion filed by the political party UNIDOS-PODEMOS claiming that the application of section 155 is against the Spanish Constitution; 15. The Opinion 14/2017 of the Catalan Consell de Garanties Estatutarias. The motion filed by the Catalan Parliament for judicial review against the Order of the Spanish Senate; 16. The material question: Does the bloque de constitucionalidad entails a limit before section 155?Abstract:Section 155 of the Spanish Constitution regulates federal coercion by means of a text inspired in section 37 of the Fundamental Law of Bonn, although the former presents some important differences, especially due to the different electoral configuration of the Spanish Senate and the Bundesrat. The wording of section 155 is a good example of the characteristic ambiguity of constitutional texts. Its interpretation suffers from a lack of legislative development and former precedents. By means of the Order of 27th of October, 2017, the Spanish Senate has applied for the first time section 155, understanding that the Catalan Generalitat had violated the Constitution. The authorization given to the Spanish Government entailed the dismissal of the Autonomous Government of Catalonia and the dissolution of the Autonomous Parliament. Two motions have been filed,one by the parliamentary group Unidos-Podemos, and another by the DiputaciónPermanente of the Parliament of Catalonia. This paper tackles the legal analysis of section 155, and risks predicting the future ruling of the Spanish Constitutional Court.


2019 ◽  
pp. 83-106 ◽  
Author(s):  
Emanuele Musa

The growing awareness of humanity's finite resources and recognition of the limitations of one-off projects are prompting step changes in development planning. Sustainable development addresses the limitations of current practices; its aim is to achieve the triple bottom line of economic prosperity, environmental quality and social equity, meeting the needs of present society without compromising resources for future generations. Collective intelligence is considered by both Charles Leadbeater (former advisor to Tony Blair) and MIT as one of the most powerful ways to tackle complex problems, like climate change. This chapter explores the principles of crowdsourcing, its applications and the main trends. It presents theories, practices and examples of the use of crowdsourcing to innovate in the area of sustainable development for the common good. It announces the rise of collective brain-power to the challenge of creating better and more effective forms of civic and social engagement to solve problems on a world scale.


Author(s):  
Suglo Tohari Luri

Projects are generally initiated and executed to achieve strategic goals and visions. These goals and visions may not include benefits for future generations and may lead to adverse effects. The benefits of future generation as a results of project execution are the Sustainable Development benefits. They are serious problem that project organizations and stakeholders face during and after project execution to make visions a reality. Life expectancy is directly influence by environmental quality and stakeholder income. To achieve better and quality life, environmental considerations and income generation activities must be integrated into Sustainable Development creation strategy during Project planning. This will ensure that the Project is guided and executed in a manner to enhance the satisfaction of stakeholders and future generations. The purpose of this study is to discuss the concept of Sustainable Development Co-creation with key stakeholders as co-creators, study how Sustainable Development benefits are created and show how these benefits can be evaluated at the close of a solar power project.


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