A/HRC/40/55 Right to a healthy environment States in grey recognize the right to a heathy environment in their constitutions, legislation, as parties to a regional treaty, or a combination of these instruments. The boundaries and names shown and the designations used on this map do not imply official endorsement or acceptance by the United Nations. Dotted line represents approximately the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir agreed upon by India and Pakistan. The final status of Jammu and Kashmir has not yet been agreed upon by the parties. The final boundary between the Republic of the Sudan and the Republic of South Sudan has not yet been determined. Right to breathe clean air 17. The remainder of the present report examines the human rights obligations relating to the right to breathe clean air, which is one of the vital elements of the right to a healthy and sustainable environment, along with access to clean water and adequate sanitation, healthy and sustainable food, a safe climate, and healthy biodiversity and ecosystems. The report draws on information provided in more than 30 submissions received in response to a call for inputs from States, civil society organizations, private actors and academic as well as statements and reports by international organizations, human rights treaty bodies, special procedures and other sources. II. Adverse impacts of poor air quality A. Ambient and household air pollution 18. Air quality is degraded by both ambient and household air pollution. Ambient air pollution is caused by electricity generation (from burning fossil fuels or biomass), industrial processes (e.g. oil refining, brick and cement manufacturing), mining, agricultural practices (e.g. burning crop residues or to clear land), poor waste management (e.g. open burning of garbage) and transportation (land, water, air). Civil society organizations raised concerns about open burning of waste in Lebanon, bauxite mining in Guinea and coal mining in Mozambique. Small-scale businesses in the informal economy can cumulatively produce large volumes of air pollution. Natural factors, such as wildfires and dust storms, also can contribute to ambient air pollution. Household air pollution is generated by the use 4

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