New York, 29 July 2022 (TDI): The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) has adopted a resolution that advocates for a clean and healthy environment for all.
161 countries voted in favor of the resolution that states that access to a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment is a universal human right.
Today, the General Assembly adopted the historic resolution to recognise the human right to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment.
A hopeful and momentous step towards addressing the climate emergency, and towards a healthier planet #R2CHE pic.twitter.com/YaabRWw48k
— Abdulla Shahid (@abdulla_shahid) July 28, 2022
The UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres welcomed the decision by UNGA. He also said that this development shows that member states can work together to fight the triple planetary crisis of climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution.
Guterres added, “The resolution will help reduce environmental injustices, close protection gaps and empower people, especially those that are in vulnerable situations, including environmental human rights defenders, children, youth, women, and indigenous peoples”.
He also said that the decision will help countries accelerate the execution of their environmental and human rights responsibilities and commitments.
The resolution for a better environment
The initiative to adopt the resolution was presented in June by Costa Rica, the Maldives, Morocco, Slovenia, and Switzerland. The resolution is currently sponsored by hundred other countries. The resolution emphasizes that the right to a healthy environment relates to international law.
اعتمدت اليوم الجمعية العامة للأمم المتحدة 🇺🇳 مشروع قرار قدمه كل من المغرب 🇲🇦 وسويسرا 🇨🇭وسلوفينيا 🇸🇮 وكوستاريكا 🇨🇷 والمالديف 🇲🇻، تُقَرِّرُ من خلاله بأن الحق في بيئة نظيفة وصحية و مستدامة هو حق من حقوق الإنسان.@MarocDiplo_AR @UNEP_Arabic @UNNewsArabic pic.twitter.com/foBCLPs9L2
— Permanent Mission of Morocco to the UN (@Morocco_UN) July 28, 2022
It also affirms that its promotion needs the full execution of multilateral environmental alliances. The resolution also acknowledges the impact of climate change, the unsustainable management, and the use of natural resources, the pollution of air, land, and water.
It also exposes the poor management of chemicals and waste, and that the resulting loss in biodiversity disrupts the enjoyment of this right. It also recognizes the negative effects of environmental damage both directly and indirectly on the effective enjoyment of all human rights.
The UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights and the Environment, David Boyd, said that UNGA’s decision will alter the nature of international human rights law.
Also read : UNSC adopts Resolution 2634
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights lauds UNGA
The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet lauded UNGA on the adoption of the resolution.
She said, ” Today is a historic moment, but simply affirming our right to a healthy environment is not enough. The General Assembly resolution is very clear: States must implement their international commitments and scale up their efforts to realize it. we will all suffer much worse effects from environmental crises if we do not work together to collectively avert them now”.
The United Nations Conference on the Environment in Stockholm in 1972 was the first meeting that focused environmental issues. This was the beginning of dialogues between industrialized and developing countries.
These dialogues were focused on economic growth, the pollution of air, water and the ocean as well as the wellbeing of human beings. However, the UN members then only declared that people have the right to an environment that allows a life of dignity and well being.
In October 2021, the Human Rights Council acknowledged the right to a healthy environment for all people and urged the UNGA to do the same.
