A/HRC/43/53
United Nations
General Assembly
Distr.: General
30 December 2019
Original: English
Human Rights Council
Forty-third session
24 February–20 March 2020
Agenda item 3
Promotion and protection of all human rights, civil,
political, economic, social and cultural rights,
including the right to development
Right to a healthy environment: good practices
Report of the Special Rapporteur on the issue of human rights
obligations relating to the enjoyment of a safe, clean, healthy and
sustainable environment
Summary
In the present report, the Special Rapporteur on the issue of human rights obligations
relating to the enjoyment of a safe, clean, healthy and sustainable environment describes
good practices followed by States in recognizing the right to live in a safe, clean, healthy and
sustainable environment and in implementing the procedural and substantive elements of the
right. This fundamental human right is now recognized in law by more than 80 per cent (156
out of 193) of States Members of the United Nations. The procedural elements are access to
information, public participation, and access to justice and effective remedies. The
substantive elements include clean air, a safe climate, access to safe water and adequate
sanitation, healthy and sustainably produced food, non-toxic environments in which to live,
work, study and play, and healthy biodiversity and ecosystems. In the context of the global
environmental crisis, accelerated diffusion and adoption of good practices to protect human
rights is imperative.
GE.19-22628(E)
Select target paragraph3
Connect to a paragraph
Connect to an entity
Disable highlights
Add to table of contents