A/HRC/25/53 the right to life that occurred as a result of natural disasters and also as a result of improper maintenance of a municipal rubbish tip that caused a massive explosion.15 20. Many sources, including the Human Rights Council, the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, the special rapporteurs, the African Commission and the European Committee of Social Rights have identified environmental threats to the right to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health. Examples include the improper disposal of toxic wastes (Human Rights Council resolution 9/1; E/CN.4/2004/46, para. 79), exposure to radiation and harmful chemicals (Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, general comment No. 14 (2000), para. 15), oil pollution (African Commission, Ogoniland case, para. 54), and large-scale water pollution.16 21. In addition, many sources have identified environmental threats to the right to an adequate standard of living and its components. For example, the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights has identified the improper use of pesticides as a threat to the right to food,17 while the Special Rapporteur on the right to food has found that right to be threatened by pollution and habitat loss (A/67/268, paras. 17–19). The Special Rapporteur on hazardous substances and wastes has indicated that waste from extractive industries can infringe the right to water (A/HRC/21/48, para. 39), and the Special Rapporteur on adequate housing as a component of the right to an adequate standard of living, and on the right to non-discrimination in this context has described how that right is threatened by climate change (A/64/255). 22. Indeed, special rapporteurs have explained how climate change threatens a wide range of rights, including the rights to health, water and food.18 An OHCHR report describes the implications of climate change for those rights and others, including the right of self-determination for peoples living in small island States (A/HRC/10/61). The Human Rights Council took note of the report and expressed its concern that “climate change poses an immediate and far-reaching threat to people and communities around the world and has adverse implications for the full enjoyment of human rights” (resolution 18/22). 23. The Human Rights Council has recognized that “environmental damage is felt most acutely by those segments of the population already in vulnerable situations” (resolution 16/11). The sources reviewed provide examples of environmental harm that particularly affects such groups. For example, the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women has identified many types of environmental harm, including natural disasters, climate change, nuclear contamination and water pollution, that can adversely affect rights protected under the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women.19 The Special Rapporteur on hazardous substances and wastes has highlighted the particular dangers that exposure to mercury through artisanal mining poses to women in respect of their right to health (A/HRC/21/48, paras. 32, 33). 24. The rights of children, too, may be particularly affected by environmental degradation. The Convention on the Rights of the Child states that environmental pollution 15 16 17 18 19 European report, pp. 4–5; and Council of Europe, Manual, pp. 35–37. European Committee of Social Rights, complaint No. 72/2011, International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) v. Greece (2013). ICESCR report, sect. II. Report on special procedures, sect. II. See also the joint statement by the special procedures mandate holders regarding the United Nations Climate Change Conference, available at http://www.ohchr.org/en/NewsEvents/Pages/DisplayNews.aspx?NewsID=9667&LangID=E. Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) report, sect. II. 7