David R. Boyd is a professor at the Institute for Resources, Environment and Sustainability at University of British Columbia (UBC). He previously served as the UN Special Rapporteur on the human right to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment, having served in this position from 2018-2024.
He has a PhD in Resource Management and Environmental Studies from UBC, a law degree from the University of Toronto, and a business degree from the University of Alberta. He served as the executive director of Ecojustice, argued cases at the Supreme Court of Canada, and worked as a special advisor on sustainability for Canadian Prime Minister Paul Martin. He has advised many governments on environmental, constitutional, and human rights policy and co-chaired Vancouver’s effort to become the world’s greenest city by 2020.
Boyd is also the author of ten books and over 100 reports and articles on environmental law and policy, human rights, and constitutional law. His most recent books include The Rights of Nature (ECW Press, 2017) and The Optimistic Environmentalist (ECW Press, 2015).
He lives on Pender Island with his partner Margot Venton and their daughter Meredith, and loves to run, kayak, cycle and go to the beach!
