UN declares human right to clean environment

Villagers walk on a street as the haze shrouds Pulau Mentaro village in Muaro Jambi, on the Indonesian island of Sumatra, September 15, 2015..REUTERS/Beawiharta

GENEVA – Oct. 8 (Reuters), – Friday’s U.N. Human Rights Council recognized access to a clean environment as a fundamental rights, officially adding its weight in the global fight against climate change.

Despite criticisms from some countries, including the United States and Britain, the vote passed with overwhelming support. Continue reading

Although it isn’t legally binding, the resolution was first discussed back in the 1990s. It has the potential to create global standards. It could be used by lawyers involved in climate litigation to help them build arguments in cases that involve the environment and human right.

“This decision is a historic breakthrough in a world that the global environment crisis causes more than nine millions premature deaths each year,” said David Boyd.

The text, which was submitted by Costa Rica, the Maldives (Morocco), Slovenia, and Switzerland, was approved with 43 votes in favor and 4 abstentions.

Britain, which had been a critic of the proposal in recent intense negotiations was surprised to vote in favor in a last-minute surprise move. Rita French, Britain’s ambassador to UN Geneva, stated that the UK was voting “yes” because it shares the UN’s ambition to combat climate change, but also said that the resolution would not apply to states.

The United States didn’t vote because it isn’t currently a member the 47-member Council.

Catalina Devandas Aguilar Costa Rica’s Ambassador, stated that the decision will “send an important message to communities around world struggling with climate difficulties that they aren’t alone”.

Critics raised a variety of objections, claiming that the Council was not the right forum and citing legal concerns.

Environmental defenders said Britain’s earlier criticism was undermining its pledges in advance of the global conference on climate change it will host in Glasgow next year. Continue reading

John Knox, a former U.N. Special Reporteur, stated before the vote that those who criticised the resolution were on the “wrong side of history.”

The World Health Organization estimates that 13.7 million deaths each year are caused by environmental risks like air pollution and chemical exposure. This is around 24.3% of global total.

On Friday, the Council also approved another proposal from the Marshall Islands to establish a special climate change rapporteur.

Reporting by Emma Farge. Editing by Stephanie Nebehay. John Stonestreet. Dan Grebler.

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