Book Reviews Boyle, Alan, and Michael Anderson (eds). Human Rights Approaches to Environmental Protection. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1996. Pp 313. The condition of the environment is inextricably linked to our social and economic well-being. As the title suggests, this book addresses the extent to which human rights should be mobilized, interpreted and reinvented - not only procedurally but also substantively - to achieve environmental ends. This book, a collection of 14 essays, begins with a comprehensive overview and a chapter on the conceptual problems that arise when approaching environmental issues through a human rights framework. It then considers the desirability of reconceiving international law in human rights terms, in particular as an anthropocentric right, and assesses the current legal status of environmental rights in human rights treaties and in the European Union. The accountability of international institutions is the next focus, with a discussion on non-governmental organizations' use of participation rights to pursue environmental protection goals. The second part begins with a useful jurisprudential perspective on judicial enforcement of constitutionally recognized environmental rights, comparing the United States approach with that of India. Utilizing case studies, the second part focuses on the application of environmental rights in domestic law and the extent to which constitutionally supported rights have been translated into everyday environmental management. Illustrative examples from South Africa, India, Malaysia, Ecuador, Brazil and Pakistan reveal that political and economic factors frequently obstruct the potential for enforcement of environmental rights. The book provides the reader with a thorough appreciation of the issues and challenges facing a human rights approach to an environmental question. Charmian Barton Harvard Law School
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