Associate Professor David R. Boyd , PhD, LLB, BA is a globally recognized expert in environmental law, policy, and human rights. He holds a joint appointment at the School of Public Policy and Global Affairs (SPPGA) and the Institute for Resources, Environment, and Sustainability (IRES) at the University of British Columbia (UBC).

David Boyd served as the UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights and the Environment (2018–2024), where he played a key role in advancing international recognition of the right to a healthy environment. He has advised governments worldwide on environmental, constitutional, and human rights policy and was Special Advisor on Sustainability to Canadian Prime Minister Paul Martin. He also co-chaired Vancouver’s Greenest City 2020 initiative alongside Mayor Gregor Robertson.

Boyd holds 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 has appeared before the Supreme Court of Canada, served as the Executive Director of Ecojustice, and is a member of the World Commission on Environmental Law and the UN’s Harmony with Nature Initiative.

A prolific author, Boyd has written nine books and over 100 reports and articles on environmental law, human rights, and constitutional law. His notable books include “The Rights of Nature” (2017), “The Optimistic Environmentalist” (2015), and “The Environmental Rights Revolution” (2012), which explore the legal and policy dimensions of environmental protection and human rights.