A/HRC/37/58 issues concerning future generations. While the former is concerned with the long-term as well as short-term consequences of present decisions, the latter is based primarily on the rights of individual human beings. It is difficult, if not impossible, to define the rights of individuals who are not yet alive. 68. Nevertheless, the division between present and future generations is less sharp than it sometimes appears to be. Concerns about future generations and sustainable development often focus on the state of the environment in particular years in the future, such as the year 2030 or 2100. Many people that will be living in 2100 are not yet born, and in that sense truly belong to future generations. But many people who will be living then are already alive today. To take a personal example, the Special Rapporteur has twin nieces who were born in 2016. The next century will begin before they celebrate their eighty-fourth birthday. Moreover, the line between future generations and today’s children shifts every time another baby arrives and inherits their full entitlement of human rights. It is critical, therefore, that discussions of future generations take into account the rights of the children who are constantly arriving, or have already arrived, on this planet. We do not need to look far to see the people whose future lives will be affected by our actions today. They are already here. VI. Conclusions and recommendations 69. No group is more vulnerable to environmental harm than children. Air pollution, water pollution and exposure to toxic substances, together with other types of environmental harm, cause 1.5 million deaths of children under the age of 5 every year, and contribute to disease, disability and early mortality throughout their life. In addition, climate change and the loss of biodiversity threaten to cause long-term effects that will blight children’s lives for years to come. Making matters worse, children are often not able to exercise their rights, including their rights to information, participation and access to effective remedies. 70. States must do more to respect, protect and fulfil the rights of children in relation to environmental harm. To that end, the present report includes a number of specific recommendations, which build on the work of other special rapporteurs, the Committee on the Rights of the Child, OHCHR, UNICEF, WHO and the many others who submitted oral and written communications during the preparation of the report. 71. With respect to children’s educational and procedural rights, States should, among other things: (a) Ensure that educational programmes increase children’s understanding of environmental issues and strengthen their capacity to respond to environmental challenges; (b) Ensure that the effects of proposed measures on children’s rights are assessed before the measures are taken or approved; (c) Collect information about sources of environmental harm to children and make the information publicly available and accessible; (d) Facilitate the participation of children in environmental decision-making processes, and protect them from reprisals for their participation or otherwise expressing their views on environmental matters; (e) Remove barriers that children face to access to justice for environmental harm to the full enjoyment of their human rights. 72. States also have heightened obligations to take effective substantive measures to protect children from environmental harm, including by ensuring that their best interests are a primary consideration with respect to all decision-making that may cause them environmental harm. In particular, States should adopt and implement environmental standards that are consistent with the best available science and relevant international health and safety standards, never take retrogressive measures, 18