A/HRC/40/55 the universal periodic review process.23 The New Urban Agenda developed at the United Nations Conference on Housing and Sustainable Urban Development (Habitat III) and endorsed by the General Assembly (resolution 71/256, annex) contains extensive references to the interrelated imperatives of respecting human rights and improving both ambient and household air quality. 47. Special procedures of the Human Rights Council have urged States to tackle the scourge of air pollution. In a report on children’s rights and the environment (A/HRC/37/58), the mandate holder emphasized the need to reduce the catastrophic health impacts of air pollution. In 2016, the Special Rapporteur on the implications for human rights of the environmentally sound management and disposal of hazardous substances and wastes decried the “silent pandemic” of disease associated with childhood exposure to toxic substances, including air pollution (A/HRC/33/41). In 2018, the Independent Expert on the enjoyment of all human rights by older persons called upon States to reduce air pollution because it “disproportionately affects the health of older persons” (A/HRC/39/50). Special rapporteurs have also produced country reports highlighting the importance of tackling air pollution (A/HRC/30/40/Add.1 and Corr.1, A/HRC/37/58/Add.2). 48. Human rights are a vital element of the Sustainable Development Goals and improving air quality is essential to achieving several targets within the Goals, including target 3.9 on reducing deaths and illnesses from pollution; targets 7.1 on universal access to modern energy services and 7.2 on increasing the use of renewable energy; target 11.6 on reducing the per capita environmental impact of cities; and target 12.4 on environmentally sound management of chemicals and wastes. 49. Improving air quality would also benefit human rights related to other Sustainable Development Goals, including Goal 1 on no poverty; Goal 5 on gender equality; Goal 6 on clean water and sanitation; Goal 9 on industry, innovation and infrastructure; Goal 10 on reduced inequalities; and Goal 13 on climate action. 50. Approaching air quality from a human rights perspective highlights the principles of universality and non-discrimination, under which human rights are guaranteed for all persons, including persons living in vulnerable situations. A human rights perspective can also serve as a catalyst for accelerated action to achieve clean air, empower those working to improve air quality and serve as a North Star or Southern Cross to guide our actions as we navigate towards a healthy and sustainable future. A. Right to life 51. The right to life is universally recognized in human rights law. The Human Rights Committee, in 2018, stated: “Environmental degradation, climate change and unsustainable development constitute some of the most pressing and serious threats to the ability of present and future generations to enjoy the right to life.”24 52. As noted earlier, air pollution causes 7 million premature deaths annually, including the deaths of more than 600,000 children. These staggering and almost incomprehensible statistics represent an egregious violation of the right to life. B. Right to health 53. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights includes health as part of the right to an adequate standard of living (art. 25). The International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights enshrines the right to health and provides that the steps to be taken by States to achieve the full realization of that right “shall include those necessary for ... the improvement of all aspects of environmental and industrial hygiene” (art. 12). The 23 24 See, for example, Kuwait (A/HRC/29/17, para. 157.257) and the former Yugoslavian Republic of Macedonia (A/HRC/26/10, para. 101.104). General comment No. 36 (2018) on the right to life, para. 62. 9