UNGA affirms right to clean, healthy environment as universal human right, reflecting growing global recognition.

The United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution that affirms the right to a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment as a universal human right. This landmark resolution came after years of advocacy by environmental and human rights organizations, reflecting growing global recognition of the environmental challenges and their impact on human well-being. The background to this development can be traced to the increasing visibility of issues such as climate change, pollution, and loss of biodiversity, which have significant impacts on health, livelihoods, and overall quality of life. The resolution acknowledges that environmental sustainability is essential to the fulfillment of other human rights, including the rights to life, health, food, and water. This resolution is particularly impactful because it places environmental health on par with other fundamental human rights. It underscores the global community's responsibility to ensure that all individuals have access to a clean and healthy environment. This move aims to bolster national and international policies and strengthen regulatory frameworks to protect and preserve the environment. Various international environmental statistics highlight the urgency of such measures. For example, according to the World Health Organization, about 91% of the world’s population lives in places where air quality levels exceed recommended limits, and approximately 4.2 million premature deaths are linked to air pollution annually. Furthermore, climate change and environmental degradation are projected to push an additional 100 million people into poverty by 2030, based on the World Bank reports. By asserting clean, healthy, and sustainable environment as a human right, the resolution provides a legal and moral framework for individuals and communities to hold governments and private actors accountable. It also serves as a guiding principle for future legal and policy developments at national and international levels, contributing to more robust environmental protection efforts. This resolution received broad support from member states, indicating a growing consensus on the critical role environmental health plays in achieving sustainable development goals and protecting human rights. #UNResolution #RightToEnvironment #HumanRights #Sustainability #GlobalHealth #EnvironmentalJustice #CleanAir #MoofLife