The United Nations Human Rights Council on October 8, 2021, recognized access to a clean and healthy environment as a fundamental right. The move by the global body has added its weight to the global fight against climate change as well as its devastating consequences on humans.
The vote was passed in UNHRC with overwhelming support, despite the criticism in the lead-up from some of the nations, notably the United States and Britain, the highly-developed countries in the world.
Another proposal led by the Marshall Islands (an independent island country) to create a new special rapporteur on climate change was also approved by the United Nations Rights Council on October 8.
For the first time, @UN_HRC
— UN News (@UN_News_Centre) October 8, 2021
recognized that having a clean, healthy and sustainable environment is part of our inalienable #HumanRights. @UNHumanRights chief, @mbachelet said “bold action is now required". #ClimateActionNowhttps://t.co/JR75iCt8O1
Clean environment declared a human right: Why is it significant?The resolution declaring a clean and healthy environment as a fundamental right was first discussed in the 1990s. Even though the recently passed resolution is not legally binding, it has the potential to shape global standards. Lawyers who have been involved in the climate litigation said that the resolution can help them in building arguments in cases involving the environment and human rights. Costa Rica’s ambassador said that the decision by the UN will send a powerful message to communities around the world struggling with climate hardship that they are not alone. |
Key Highlights:
• The resolution, proposed by Costa Rica, Morocco, the Maldives, Switzerland, and Slovenia, was passed with 43 votes in favour and 4 abstentions from India, Russia, Japan, and China prompted a rare burst of applause in the Geneva Forum.
• The UK, which was among the critics of the proposal in recent intense negotiations, voted in favour of, last-minute move. As per its ambassador to the UN, Rita Fench said that the country voted yes as it shared supporters’ ambition to tackle climate change. However, she added that the country will not be bounded to the resolution’s terms.
• The United States did not vote since it is not currently a member of the 47-member council.
Criticism of resolution
Critics against the resolution of declaring a clean environment a human right had raised various objections, including that the UNHRC was not the appropriate forum for it as well as citing legal concerns.
Environmental defenders had said that the UK’s earlier stance had undermined its pledges ahead of the global climate conference it is hosting in Glasgow in October 2021.
Impact of climate change
According to the World Health Organisation, some 13.7 million deaths per year, or around 24.3% of the global total are because of environmental risks such as chemical exposure or air pollution.
The UN Special rapporteur on human rights and environment, David Boyd, who called the decision a ‘historic breakthrough’, said that this has a life-changing potential in a world where the global environmental crises cause more than nine million premature deaths every year.
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