“Will the Council of Europe prioritize the right to a healthy environment as a litmus test for progress?”

The Council of Europe is on the brink of a historic milestone in the protection of human rights: the recognition and protection of the right to a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment. While several human rights systems across the globe recognise this right, the European human rights convention still lags behind, leaving people vulnerable to environmental threats and harms. The upcoming Summit in Reykjavik, Iceland, presents an opportunity for European governments to reaffirm their commitment to core values and take a decisive step towards effective environmental protection.

For decades, the European human rights framework has played a critical role in the protection of human rights. Nonetheless, environmental degradation inflicted by humans is increasingly endangering the protection of these rights. The triple planetary crisis caused by pollution, climate change, and the loss of biodiversity threatens our environment, health, and rights. The latest IPCC climate reports indicate that extreme temperatures and abnormal weather events increasingly impact human rights and the planet. The war in Ukraine has also caused severe environmental harm, which is expected to damage future generations.

Recognising the human right to a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment will not only catalyse improved environmental protection and more ambitious climate action across Europe but also promote legal consistency and corporate accountability. Also, the widespread recognition of environmental activists as defenders of human rights is a crucial aspect of this recognition, which enhances protection for human rights defenders.

The United Nations General Assembly’s historic vote in July 2022 that affirmed everyone’s right to live in a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment, following the mobilisation of over 1000 civil society organisations and Indigenous Peoples, added weight to the need for the Council of Europe to act.

The Reykjavik Summit provides an unprecedented opportunity for Council of Europe Member States to recognise the right and take firm steps towards its effective protection through the drafting of a dedicated protocol to the European Convention on Human Rights. The benefits of such recognition are significant, and the political will from governments is all that is needed to take this significant step.

Moving forward, the need for actionable and enforceable recognition of this right at home is crucial, particularly in light of the triple planetary crisis threatening our existence. Council of Europe States must act now to recognise this right and live up to their responsibility to safeguard the environment and ensure human dignity.

In conclusion, the recognition of the right to a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment by the Council of Europe is a litmus test for human rights progress. The urgent need to protect environmental resources and advance human rights renders this recognition long overdue. European governments must take action during the Summit to ensure that this significant milestone towards environmental protection is achieved.

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