Direito humano à água e a perspectiva econômica para a sustentabilidade hídrica

Abstract

The paper addresses the human right to water to make it a reality, revealing the importance of universal access to clean water from the point of view of human dignity and the protection of the quality of water resources. This study also addresses the economic instrument of Payment for Environmental Services (PES), which remunerates those who conserve natural resources, in order to demonstrate its feasibility to generate income, to contribute for environmental protection and to ensure water sustainability, matching with the human right to water. It analyses water as an environmental good, addressing general principles of Environmental Law, such as polluter pays, paying user and protector receiver and it also conceptualizes PES, pointing out some Brazilian initiatives related to water conservation. It was concluded that, although there are challenges, PES is an instrument capable of achieving universal access to water and improving the quality and quantity of water resources in the country. Methodology consists of exploratory and qualitative research, using a bibliographic procedure.