Environmental agenda in the sphere of digital rights: the right to information on the environmental footprint of products

The article examines the right to information about the environmental footprint of products as a new dimension of digital human rights in the context of contemporary sustainable development challenges. The authors analyze the transformation of traditional environmental rights into the digital environment and substantiate the necessity of legal regulation of access to environmental information through digital technologies. The study explores the evolution of digital rights, including the right to Internet access, freedom of expression online, personal data protection, and digital self-determination, within the context of the environmental agenda. Special attention is given to the analysis of European legislation, particularly the implementation of Digital Product Passports, the EU Battery Regulation (2023/1542) with mandatory carbon footprint labeling, the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD), and the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR). The authors examine in detail the mechanisms for implementing the right to environmental information through QR codes, blockchain tracing, Environmental Product Declarations (EPD), and online platforms. The legal foundation of this right, established by the Aarhus Convention, the Constitution of Ukraine, and European directives, is analyzed. The article provides a comprehensive overview of the implementation status of key European directives into Ukrainian legislation, including the Environmental Impact Assessment Directive, the Industrial Emissions Directive, and the Ecodesign Directive. Particular attention is paid to analyzing Ukraine’s European integration obligations in the field of environmental policy, including the Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC), the National Energy and Climate Plan (NECP), and the Climate Law. The research substantiates that the right to information about the environmental footprint of products is a fundamental prerequisite for informed consumer choice and the formation of a responsible society, and its effective implementation requires the creation of a comprehensive legal framework and digital infrastructure in Ukraine.