A/HRC/31/53 transboundary impacts. Such a regional agreement would complement ongoing efforts by the ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights to integrate a human rights perspective on environmental and climate change policymaking. 53. In addition, regional bodies could further the implementation of human rights norms relating to the environment by, among other things: (a) building capacity for the judicial sector to understand the relationship between human rights and the environment; and (b) supporting national efforts to implement human rights and environmental principles into national laws, including by increasing dialogue and cooperation between different ministries. C. National actors 54. States are already undertaking a wide array of measures to implement human rights obligations relating to the environment, as explained in the report of the Special Rapporteur on good practices (A/HRC/28/61). But much remains to be done to adopt those good practices more widely and to ensure their effective implementation. 1. State institutions 55. A number of interlocutors urged States that have not yet done so to consider adopting a right to a healthy environment into their national constitution. Experts have identified many potential benefits of adopting a constitutional environmental right, including that the recognition of such rights can lead to the enactment of stronger environmental laws; provide a safety net to protect against gaps in statutory environmental laws; raise the profile and importance of environmental protection as compared with competing interests, such as economic development; and create opportunities for better access to justice and accountability. Whether or not States adopt a constitutional right to a healthy environment, States should adopt strong environmental laws ensuring, among other things, rights to information, participation and remedy. In the report on good practices, the Special Rapporteur provides several examples of such laws. 56. States should also consider establishing dedicated environmental courts and/or modifying standing requirements to facilitate the resolution of environmental cases. Examples of such courts include the Land and Environment Court of New South Wales, Australia, created in 1980; the Environmental Administrative Tribunal of Costa Rica, established in 1995, and the National Green Tribunals of India, established in 2011. At the administrative level, a human rights perspective should be mainstreamed not only in environmental agencies, but also in development agencies of all kinds. 57. To strengthen implementation, States also need to create an enabling environment with appropriate safeguards for environmental human rights defenders. An important step is to ensure that the principles of the Declaration on the Right and Responsibility of Individuals, Groups and Organs of Society to Promote and Protect Universally Recognized Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms are enshrined in national law, and to establish and strengthen protection programmes and mechanisms for human rights defenders, including environmental defenders. 58. Furthermore, States should continue to cooperate with the national and regional country offices of UNDP, UNEP and OHCHR to mainstream a human rights perspective into their environmental programmes and activities. A potential area of collaboration is building the capacity of law students, advocates, judges, national human rights institutions, policymakers and other relevant actors to apply human rights norms in their decisionmaking. 12