The Implementation of UN General Assembly Resolution 76/300 Recognizing the Right to a Clean, Healthy, and Sustainable Environment

Event

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The global recognition of the right to a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment (HR2HE) through United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) Resolution 76/300 marks a key advancement in aligning human rights with environmental protection. As a cornerstone of the human rights-based approach to environmental protection and climate change, this human right was formally endorsed by the UN in 2022. It emphasizes the critical need for clean air, safe water, sustainable food, a non-toxic environment, healthy biodiversity, and a stable climate.

Although Resolution 76/300 is non-binding, it builds on long-standing efforts to implement the HR2HE at national and regional levels, with over 85% of UN Member States already incorporating this right into their constitutions, legislation or through their ratification of regional treaties that include this right. The resolution consolidates this progress by urging States to adopt policies and measures to ensure a clean, healthy and sustainable environment for all. It stresses the importance of collective action to address the escalating triple planetary crisis of climate change, pollution, and biodiversity loss. Additionally, it reflects a shift towards more flexible and inclusive multilateralism, involving diverse stakeholders in addressing pressing, cross-border, and complex environmental and climate challenges.

Despite challenges in fully implementing the HR2HE, Resolution 76/300 has already influenced State actions and strengthened responses at local, national, and global levels to the triple planetary crisis. Its growing recognition points to the potential for HR2HE to evolve into a binding norm under international law, further solidifying environmental protection and human rights. The widespread commitment of States and international bodies to uphold this fundamental right demonstrates a significant step towards stronger global cooperation and accountability, ensuring a clean, healthy and sustainable environment for present and future generations.

This conference aims to explore the implications of Resolution 76/300, focusing on both its potential and limitations. The discussion will notably address the legal status of the resolution, the opportunities it offers for advancing environmental protection, its influence on legal reforms, policy frameworks, jurisprudence and international collaboration, and its role in combating the fight against the triple planetary crisis.

Program

18:30 – 18:40 Welcome

Dr. Christophe Golay, Senior Research Fellow, Geneva Academy

18:40 – 19:40 Panel

Astrid Puentes Riaño, The UN Special Rapporteur on human rights and the environment
Prof. David R. Boyd, Former UN Special Rapporteur on human rights and the environment (online)
Dr. Baïna Ubushieva, Associate Research Fellow, Geneva Academy
Roberto Céspedes Gomez, Ministre Conseiller, Permanent Mission of the Republic of Costa Rica to the UN in Geneva
Ioulietta Bisiouli, Director, European Implementation Network
Francesca Mingrone, Senior Attorney, CIEL

19:40-20:00 Discussion with the panelists and participants