Nuevas dimensiones del derecho a gozar de un ambiente sano en Colombia

The right to a healthy environment, considered as a human right, has been analyzed and interpreted by the Colombian Constitutional Court, since the Political Constitution of 1991, to define its nature and respond to the challenges related to the protection of the environment and people’s well-being. The constitutional consecration of this right as a collective and the environmental conflicts increase in recent decades has led the Constitutional Court, through its jurisprudence, to delve into its nature and define as a fundamental right. This recognition has been based on the theory of connection, which implies that it can be litigated with the tutela action. This scenario represents new challenges for the Colombian legal system and the State activity. Therefore, this article presents a jurisprudential overview on the definition of the right to a healthy environment, considering the current trends adopted by the judges of the Republic of Colombia, for which the scope and content of the right to enjoy a healthy environment, the background for its consecration and the definition of its nature, in accordance with constitutional jurisprudence.