David R. Boyd

Everyone knows that the planet is in trouble, but is there a solution? This timely book identifies the most effective ways individuals can be more green in four key areas: home, travel, food, and consumerism. It also describes how citizens can ensure that governments take the actions necessary to make sustainable lifestyles the norm instead of the exception. Environmental lawyer David Boyd and celebrated ecologist David Suzuki provide vital tips for choosing a home, creating a healthy indoor environment, and decreasing energy and water use ? and utility bills. They discuss what readers can do to drive and fly less, profile the most environmentally friendly transportation choices, and explain how to purchase carbon credits, among other suggestions. In addition, they offer simple changes individuals can make in their diet to eat fresher, tastier, healthier food. Included too is invaluable advice about how to buy fewer things and avoid toxic consumer products.

While governments assert that Canada is a world leader in sustainability, Unnatural Law provides extensive evidence to refute this claim. A comprehensive assessment of the strengths and weaknesses of Canadian environmental law, the book provides a balanced, critical examination of Canada's record, focusing on laws and policies intended to protect water, air, land, and biodiversity.Three decades of environmental laws have produced progress in a number of important areas, such as ozone depletion, protected areas, and some kinds of air and water pollution. However, Canada's overall record remains poor. In this vital and timely study, David Boyd explores the reasons why some laws and policies foster progress while others fail. He ultimately concludes that the root cause of environmental degradation in industrialized nations is excessive consumption of resources. Unnatural Law outlines the innovative changes in laws and policies that Canada must implement in order to respond to the ecological imperative of living within the Earth's limits.The struggle for a sustainable future is one of the most daunting challenges facing humanity in the 21st century. Everyone – academics, lawyers, students, policy-makers, and concerned citizens – interested in the health of the Canadian and global environments will find Unnatural Law an invaluable source of information and insight. For more information on Unnatural Law visit David Boyd's site, www.unnaturallaw.com.

While governments assert that Canada is a world leader in sustainability, Unnatural Law provides extensive evidence to refute this claim. A comprehensive assessment of the strengths and weaknesses of Canadian environmental law, the book provides a balanced, critical examination of Canada's record, focusing on laws and policies intended to protect water, air, land, and biodiversity.Three decades of environmental laws have produced progress in a number of important areas, such as ozone depletion, protected areas, and some kinds of air and water pollution. However, Canada's overall record remains poor. In this vital and timely study, David Boyd explores the reasons why some laws and policies foster progress while others fail. He ultimately concludes that the root cause of environmental degradation in industrialized nations is excessive consumption of resources. Unnatural Law outlines the innovative changes in laws and policies that Canada must implement in order to respond to the ecological imperative of living within the Earth's limits.The struggle for a sustainable future is one of the most daunting challenges facing humanity in the 21st century. Everyone – academics, lawyers, students, policy-makers, and concerned citizens – interested in the health of the Canadian and global environments will find Unnatural Law an invaluable source of information and insight. For more information on Unnatural Law visit David Boyd's site, www.unnaturallaw.com.

Palila v Hawaii. New Zealand s Te Urewera Act. Sierra Club v Disney. These legal phrases hardly sound like the makings of a revolution. But beyond the headlines portending environmental catastrophes, a movement of immense import has been building in courtrooms, legislatures, and communities across the globe. Cultures and laws are transforming to provide a powerful new approach to protecting the planet and the species with whom we share it. In Argentina, courts have ordered chimpanzees and orangutans to be freed from captivity in zoos, because these great apes have rights. In Hawaii and India, judges have recognized that endangered species from birds to lions have the legal right to exist. In New Zealand, Ecuador, and the U.S., laws have been passed recognizing that ecosystems rivers, forests, mountains, and more have legally enforceable rights. And if nature has rights, then humans have responsibilities. In The Rights of Nature, noted environmental lawyer David Boyd tells this remarkable story, which is, at its heart, one of humans as a species finally growing up. Read this book and your world view will be altered forever. Important and timely, The Rights of Nature is a recipe for hope for humans and all forms of life."

Despite Canada's enduring image as a natural paradise, every year thousands of Canadians become ill or die prematurely as a result of exposure to environmental hazards. Canadians understand that their health is inextricably linked to the health of the environment and are deeply concerned about the impacts of toxic substances on themselves and their children.In Cleaner, Greener, Healthier, David R. Boyd sets out to remedy Canada's environmental health problems. He begins by assessing the environmental burden of disease, identifies its unequal distribution along racial and socio-economic lines, and estimates the associated economic costs. He then compares Canadian environmental laws and policies with those in the United States, Australia, and the European Union, delivering a provocative diagnosis of the root causes of Canada's second-rate standards. Finally, drawing on strategies that protect citizens in other countries, Boyd prescribes legal remedies that will enable Canada to catch up with the world's environmental leaders while delivering substantial health and economic benefits.

Despite Canada's enduring image as a natural paradise, every year thousands of Canadians become ill or die prematurely as a result of exposure to environmental hazards. Canadians understand that their health is inextricably linked to the health of the environment and are deeply concerned about the impacts of toxic substances on themselves and their children.In Cleaner, Greener, Healthier, David R. Boyd sets out to remedy Canada's environmental health problems. He begins by assessing the environmental burden of disease, identifies its unequal distribution along racial and socio-economic lines, and estimates the associated economic costs. He then compares Canadian environmental laws and policies with those in the United States, Australia, and the European Union, delivering a provocative diagnosis of the root causes of Canada's second-rate standards. Finally, drawing on strategies that protect citizens in other countries, Boyd prescribes legal remedies that will enable Canada to catch up with the world's environmental leaders while delivering substantial health and economic benefits.

A hopeful, inspiring, and honest take on the environment Yes, the world faces substantial environmental challenges -- climate change, pollution, and extinction. But the surprisingly good news is that we have solutions to these problems. In the past 50 years, a remarkable number of environmental problems have been solved, while substantial progress is ongoing on others. The Optimistic Environmentalist chronicles these remarkable success stories. Endangered species -- from bald eagles to gray whales -- pulled back from the precipice of extinction. Thousands of new parks, protecting billions of hectares of land and water. The salvation of the ozone layer, vital to life on Earth. The exponential growth of renewable energy powered by wind, water, and sun. The race to be the greenest city in the world. Remarkable strides in cleaning up the air we breathe and the water we drink. The banning of dozens of the world's most toxic chemicals. A circular economy where waste is a thing of the past. Past successes pave the way for even greater achievements in the future. Providing a powerful antidote to environmental despair, this book inspires optimism, leading readers to take action and exemplifying how change can happen. A bright green future is not only possible, it's within our grasp.

Canada has abundant natural wealth -- beautiful landscapes, vast forests, and thousands of rivers and lakes. The land defines Canadians as a people, yet the country has one of the worst environmental records in the industrialized world.Building on his previous book, The Environmental Rights Revolution (2012), David R. Boyd, one of Canada's leading environmental lawyers, describes how recognizing the constitutional right to a healthy environment could have a transformative impact by empowering citizens, holding governments and industry accountable, and improving Canada's green record. The overwhelming majority of the world's nations now recognize environmental rights through laws, constitutions, treaties, or court decisions. Boyd explores Canada's history of failed efforts to do the same within this international context and offers three pathways to constitutional recognition of the right to a healthy environment.This important and provocative book provides a blueprint for renewed leadership in protecting human health, the well-being of the planet, and the interests of future generations.

Canada has abundant natural wealth -- beautiful landscapes, vast forests, and thousands of rivers and lakes. The land defines Canadians as a people, yet the country has one of the worst environmental records in the industrialized world.Building on his previous book, The Environmental Rights Revolution (2012), David R. Boyd, one of Canada's leading environmental lawyers, describes how recognizing the constitutional right to a healthy environment could have a transformative impact by empowering citizens, holding governments and industry accountable, and improving Canada's green record. The overwhelming majority of the world's nations now recognize environmental rights through laws, constitutions, treaties, or court decisions. Boyd explores Canada's history of failed efforts to do the same within this international context and offers three pathways to constitutional recognition of the right to a healthy environment.This important and provocative book provides a blueprint for renewed leadership in protecting human health, the well-being of the planet, and the interests of future generations.

The right to a healthy environment is the subject of extensive philosophical debates that revolve around a key question: Should rights to clean air, water, and soil be entrenched in law?This pioneering book answers this by moving beyond theoretical debate to measure the practical effects of enshrining the right in constitutions. David Boyd analyzes 193 constitutions and the laws and court decisions of more than 100 nations in Europe, Latin America, Asia, and Africa. He reveals that nations with constitutional protections have stronger environmental laws, enhanced enforcement, greater government accountability, and better access to justice, information, and public participation in decision making than nations without such provisions. As a result, they demonstrate superior environmental performance and have smaller ecological footprints.Boyd not only demonstrates that constitutionalizing environmental protection has the power to make sustainability a priority, he tells inspiring stories about the difference the right to a healthy environment is making in people's lives.

Dodging the Toxic Bullet presents workable strategies that show how we can live longer, healthier lives by breathing clean air, eating healthy food, drinking safe water, and using non-toxic products. Author David R. Boyd provides accessible background on a range of hazards including mercury in fish, carcinogens in cleaning products, lead in toys, and lethal E. coli in ground beef. His clear directions for reducing risk include growing lots of houseplants, choosing whole foods, avoiding consumer products with strong or long-lasting smells, and using green cleaning products. Easy-to-follow advice and informative sidebars and checklists make this a must-have guide, especially for parents of infants and children.