United Nations’ experts warn of environmental injustices

30-05-2022

Manon Picard

International Justice and Human Rights Researcher, 

Global Human Rights Defence.

Today, the UN human rights experts have called upon States to “redouble efforts to protect the imperilled planet for current and future generations amid unprecedented challenges”. The experts mentioned that some areas in the world were considered ‘sacrifice zones’ due to the extreme exposure to pollution and toxic substances which resulted in communities suffering environmental injustices. Despite the landmark resolution of the Human Rights Council in October 2021 recognizing “for the first time the human right to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment,” more action needs to be taken in order to face the unprecedented challenges brought by climate change. 

The UN experts discussed the importance of the upcoming event Stockholm+50 which will take place on the 2nd and 3rd of June 2022 in Stockholm, Sweden. The event is an international environmental meeting which will celebrate the “50 years of global environmental action”, seek to accelerate the implementation of the UN Decade of Action, the 2030 agenda as well as the Paris Agreement on Climate Change. In order for concrete action to be taken, the “meeting will follow months of consultations and discussions with individuals, communities, organizations and governments around the world”. 

In reference to the Stockholm+50 Conference, the Special Rapporteur on human rights and the environment, David Boyd, “urged States to put the right to a healthy environment at the centre of all discussions” and to implement stronger environmental laws. The right to a healthy environment was first established 50 years ago in the 1972 Stockholm Declaration. The UN experts made the following statement in regard to the human right to a healthy environment: 

“Putting human rights at the centre of environmental action will have positive implications for air quality, clean water, healthy soil, sustainably produced food, green energy, climate change, biodiversity and the elimination of toxic substances and protection of indigenous people’s rights. Doing so has the potential to spark transformative changes and save millions of lives every year. […] We live in a time of unprecedented environmental challenges. The multiple crises relating to climate disruption, biodiversity loss and pervasive pollution are impacting the enjoyment of human rights and jeopardizing the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals”.

Sources and further reading:

United Nations. (2022, May 30). Environment: Millions of lives at stake amid unprecedented challenges – UN experts. Press Release – United Nations Human Rights – Office of the High Commissioner. Retrieved on May 30, 2022, from https://www.ohchr.org/en/press-releases/2022/05/environment-millions-lives-stake-amid-unprecedented-challenges-un-experts

United Nations. (2022, May 30). Stockholm +50. https://www.stockholm50.global