An Analysis of Environmental Crisis under Environmental Constitutionalism in Pakistan

Abstract

Planet Earth has entered new epoch Anthropocene where human activity has caused and continue to spur significant change in fundamental biosphere. Environmentalists have warned that earth systems and processes are approaching critical threshold causing abrupt and surprising changes. Rising temperature, rising sea level, melting glacier, clearing forest are main environmental issues thus experts adhere fallout planet earth in near future.  Environmental protection connected with constitutional phenomena such as rights, democracy, separation of powers, and rule of law but the Constitution of Pakistan 1973 does not provide right to clean environment as Supreme Court of Pakistan interpreted right to life includes clean environment in Shehla Zia v Wapda.  Environmental Constitutionalism is understood as having formally descriptive and substantively constitutional characteristics that usually go hand in hand to create an effective system of environmental governance. Therefore, this research is intended to explore proper legal means to provide a concept for incorporation of environmental laws and rights in the Constitution of Pakistan 1973 which can ultimately lead to an effective environmental governance by the government to control environmental issues that are been faced by citizens and ultimately having impact on the entire planet.