A/HRC/22/43 55. To inform his work, he will hold a series of consultations, to the extent that funding sources permit, devoted to particular sets of thematic issues. To facilitate widespread participation, he will seek to hold the consultations in different regions of the world. The Nairobi consultation in February 2012 begins this process with a focus on procedural rights and duties. Later consultations should address the rights of vulnerable groups, substantive rights and obligations, and duties relating to transboundary and global harm, as well as other issues. He will also seek the views of interested stakeholders through alternative methods, such as surveys. 56. As part of the consultations‟ examination of human rights obligations relating to the environment, they will also seek to identify, promote and exchange views on best (or good) practices relating to the use of such obligations to inform, support and strengthen environmental policymaking, in accordance with the mandate, with the eventual aim of leading to a compilation of such practices. The Independent Expert also intends to undertake country missions, including at least one in 2013, to further inform his study of human rights obligations and good practices. As time and funding allow, he will also attend conferences and expert meetings related to human rights and the environment. 57. As the human rights obligations and good practices become more clearly identified, the Independent Expert will draw on them in carrying out two other elements of the mandate: making recommendations that could help the realization of the Millennium Development Goals, especially Goal 7 on ensuring environmental sustainability; and contributing a human rights perspective to follow-up processes to the 2012 United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development. V. Conclusions and recommendations 58. In the last two decades, the relationship of human rights and the environment has received much attention. Some fundamental aspects of that relationship are now firmly established, but many issues are still not well understood. Clarification of human rights obligations relating to the enjoyment of a safe, clean, healthy and sustainable environment is necessary in order for States and others to better understand what those obligations require and ensure that they are fully met, at every level from the local to the global. 59. At this preliminary stage in the work of the mandate, it may be too early for recommendations. The Independent Expert does have two requests, however, of all States and other interested stakeholders. First, he asks for continuing support and feedback as he goes forward. In particular, he welcomes comments and reactions to this report. 60. Second, he urges States and other stakeholders to remember that the lack of a complete understanding as to the content of all environmentally related human rights obligations should not be taken as meaning that no such obligations exist. Indeed, some aspects of the duties are already clear. Perhaps most obviously, otherwise applicable human rights obligations are not lessened merely because the environment is concerned. 61. For example, States’ fundamental obligations to refrain from arbitrary deprivation of life and to undertake due diligence to protect against the deprivation of life by non-State actors do not become inapplicable merely because the deprivation involves the environment. Similarly, States’ obligations regarding freedom of expression and association apply fully to those seeking to exercise those freedoms for the purpose of improving environmental protection. Environmental defenders have human rights just as others do but, as the Special Rapporteur on human rights 18