Report of the Special Rapporteur on the Issue of Human Rights Obligations Relating to the Enjoyment of a Safe, Clean, Healthy and Sustainable Environment

Abstract

In this report, the Special Rapporteur recommends that the UN General Assembly recognize the human right to a safe, clean, healthy and sustainable environment.

Drawing on the extensive experience with this right at the national and regional levels, the report explains why the time has come for formal UN recognition. The report also describes the possible avenues for such recognition, including a new treaty such as the Global Pact for the Environment, and a General Assembly resolution such as the 2010 resolution recognizing the right to water.

The report was submitted by the outgoing Special Rapporteur, John H. Knox, but it incorporates the input of the new Special Rapporteur, David R. Boyd, who succeeded to the mandate on August 1, 2018, and who presented the report to the General Assembly on October 25, 2018.

Keywords: human rights, environment, human right to a healthy environment, Global Pact, General Assembly

JEL Classification: K32, K33