代際正義的法律課題： 導論

LEGAL ISSUES OF INTERGENERATIONAL EQUITY: AN INTRODUCTION

本文從法規範的觀點出發，兼容國際眼界與在地視角，以觀念辯證、規範實踐、權利圖像、義務論述、正當程序、機制建置六大面向為主軸，探討不同世代之間公平正義的法律課題。本文主張： 人類社會是不同世代共容並存的夥伴關係， 人人應為世代永存及福祉而共同努力， 在觀念定位上應捨棄「發展」，將思維集中在「永續」上。人類永續性的概念內含了世代傳承、立命繼絕的要素， 永續發展作為法律課題， 必然且應是一套或一門「代際法」（Intergenerational Law）。民主法治下永續發展的實踐， 應以「世代永續」為理念圖像， 形構「世代永續法」的法治框架與機制。首要之道是修改憲法， 新增永續原則及國家保護世代利益條款： 「國家應遵守永續原則， 並保護未來世代之利益」， 以發揮整合人民之規範力度， 引領臺灣朝向永續國家與正義共同體之路。

This article aims at discussing legal issues surrounding equity and justice between present and future generations, from a legal and normative perspective that incorporates both international and local outlooks. Specifically, this article discusses the principle of intergenerational equity and sustainable development in the following six dimensions: dialectical analysis of the core concepts, normative contents and their implementation, imagery of rights, discourse of obligations, due process, and construction of relevant mechanisms. This article argues that the human society at present should be seen as accommodating different generations in partnership coexistence in which everyone should work for the continuation of human generations andwellbeing, and in this light, the conceptual orientation should shifted from“development” toward “sustainability”. Further, because the concept of sustainability contains an element of generational continuation of life, the concept of sustainable development, as a subject of legal studies, necessarily incorporates the perspective of “Intergenerational Law”. Fromthe perspective of democracy and the rule of law, sustainable development should have “generational sustainability” as the imagery ideals in guiding the formulation of its legal frameworks andmechanisms under the “law of generational sustainability”. One task that is of paramount importance is to amend the constitution by adding a clause on the principle of sustainability and the state’s obligation in ensuring intergenerational equity—such as providing that “The State shall observe the principle of sustainability in protection of the interest of future generations”—, so as tomake a clear normative statement reflecting the consensus of people in guiding Taiwan toward a sustainable state and a community of justice.