T he links between human rights and the environment have been strengthened in recent years, both at the international and at the European levels (I). New initiatives concerning the « environmentally displaced people » and some decisions reaffirming the rights of local communities or indigenous peoples provide illustrations of this progress (II). The column also presents the responsi- bilities, in this regard, of the private sector (III), the developments concerning environ- mental democracy in Europe (IV), and the substantive and procedural dimensions of the emerging right to a healthy environment in Europe (V). Finally, two environmental themes – climate and water, respectively – will be explored in greater depth in order to illustrate the implications for human rights of the rise of environmental concerns (VI)