The UN Special Rapportuer on the Right to a Healthy Environment

The UN Special Rapportuer on the Right to a Healthy Environment

On 8 October 2021, the Human Rights Council (HRC) adopted a resolution (Human Rights Council Resolution 48/13) recognising the right to a safe, clean, healthy and sustainable environment as a human right – or, more simply, a right to a healthy environment – as a universal right.

Why is the 2021 HRC Resolution significant?

The international recognition of the right to a healthy environment:

  • Elevates the right to a healthy environment to the international level and formally places it alongside other universal human rights recognised under international law.
  • Highlights that environmental protection must be assigned the same level of importance as other interests that are fundamental to human dignity, equality and freedom.
  • Complements, reinforces, and amplifies the regional and national norms and jurisprudence that have been developed.
  • Is consistent with the state of law in most of the world.

Many States now incorporate a right to a healthy environment in their constitutions.  Many questions about the relationship of human rights and the environment remain unresolved, however, and require further examination.

As a result, in March 2012 the Human Rights Council decided to establish a mandate on human rights and the environment, which will (among other tasks) study the human rights obligations relating to the enjoyment of a safe, clean, healthy and sustainable environment, and promote best practices relating to the use of human rights in environmental policymaking. Mr. John Knox was appointed in August 2012 to serve as the Independent Expert (2012 – 2015) and as the Special Rapporteur on human rights and the environment (2015 – 2018).

In March 2018, the Human Rights Council further extended the mandate and appointed Mr. David. R. Boyd as the Special Rapporteur on human rights and the environment (as of 1 August 2018).

Check out the Special Rapportuer website here - UN Mandate | UN Special Rapporteur (srenvironment.org)

Reports by the Special Rapportuer

How did we do?

The Aarhus Convention

The Human Rights to Healthy Environment in Southeast Asia: National Human Rights Institutions

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