HRC/RES/48/13
UN Human Rights Council
  • The human right to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment
CitationA/HRC/RES/48/13
Enacted byUN Human Rights Council
Enacted8 October 2021

The human right to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment is a resolution by the United Nations General Assembly and before that the United Nations Human Rights Council (HRC, as HRC/RES/48/13), that recognizes a healthy environment as a human right.[1][2] It was adopted at the 48th session of the HRC, marking the first time that the HRC recognized a human right in a resolution.[3][4] The draft resolution was put forward by the core group comprising Costa Rica (Penholder), Morocco, Slovenia, Switzerland and the Maldives.[5] The vote passed with 43 votes in favor, 0 votes against, and 4 abstentions (China, India, Japan and the Russian Federation).[1]

UN General Assembly

The resolution in itself is not legally binding, but it "invites the United Nations General Assembly to consider the matter" (i.e. the human right to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment).[1]

In 2022 during its 76th session, the United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution recognizing the human right to a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment.[6] Although General Assembly resolutions are not legally binding, this resolution was welcomed by UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet,[7] multiple special rapporteurs[8] and members of some civil society organizations.[9][10]

See also

Vote of the Human Rights Council on the related HRC/48/L.27

References

  1. ^ a b c "A/HRC/RES/48/13 - E - A/HRC/RES/48/13 -Desktop". undocs.org. Archived from the original on 2022-01-23. Retrieved 2022-01-23.
  2. ^ "Annual Report 2021: Global upheaval deepened inequalities". OHCHR. 2022-06-14. Archived from the original on 2022-06-17. Retrieved 2022-06-17.
  3. ^ Coplan, Karl S. (2021). Climate Change Law: An Introduction. Cheltenham, United Kingdom : Edward Elgar Publishing. p. 162. ISBN 978-1839101298.
  4. ^ "UNHRC Resolution recognising a Human Right to a Healthy Environment – GNHRE". Archived from the original on 2022-01-23. Retrieved 2022-01-23.
  5. ^ "Access to a healthy environment, declared a human right by UN rights council". UN News. 2021-10-08. Archived from the original on 2021-10-09. Retrieved 2022-01-23.
  6. ^ "General Assembly of the United Nations". www.un.org. Retrieved 2022-08-05.
  7. ^ "Bachelet calls for urgent action to realize human right to healthy environment following recognition by UN General Assembly". OHCHR. Retrieved 2022-08-05.
  8. ^ "UN General Assembly declares access to clean and healthy environment a universal human right". UN News. 2022-07-28. Retrieved 2022-08-05.
  9. ^ "Franciscans International: News". franciscansinternational.org. Retrieved 2022-08-05.
  10. ^ "VICTORY: UNGA Recognizes Right to a Healthy Environment For All". Center for International Environmental Law. Retrieved 2022-08-05.


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