PMPI Statement on UN’s recognition to a Clean and Healthy Environment as a Fundamental Right

The Philippine Misereor Partnership, Inc. (PMPI) celebrates the decision of the United Nations Human Rights Council in recognizing access to a safe, clean, healthy, and sustainable environment as a fundamental human right.  We thank the 43 out of the 47 United Nations’ Human Rights Council (UN-HRC) Members who voted in favor of the resolution during the General Assembly held on October 8, 2021.

This is a welcome development for all environmental advocates as well as with human rights defenders.

“A healthy environment means healthy people. When we protect nature, it also means we are defending the rights of humans whose lives and livelihood are dependent on the health of the environment.  By the UNHRC Resolution 48/13, we move one step forward towards achieving the recognition of the rights of nature. ” Yolly Esguerra, National Coordinator of PMPI said.

As advocates of the Rights of Nature in the Philippines, PMPI considers this as a historic breakthrough.  By institutionalizing this principle, people and communities are now empowered to challenge and engage governments and duty bearers for violating their human rights. This policy enables them to exact accountabilities from duty bearers when their actions and/or inactions result in harming and destroying the environment.

“When you have a policy that recognizes the connection of a healthy environment to the fulfillment of human rights, it will surely strengthen future arguments in order to win cases involving the protection of the rights of the environment,” Esguerra added.

When the government allows mining companies to dig a huge hollow that destroys our forest lands or allows reclamation projects to build business centers destroying our rivers, seas, and adjoining ecosystems, we can challenge them for violating both our human rights and nature’s rights in the court.  This sends a powerful message to all stakeholders of environmental protection.

With the threat of climate change and its impact worldwide, the recent economic slump, and rising poverty and hunger due to the pandemic, governments are expected to act fast to protect the only planet where humanity can thrive.  Thus, candidates for the 2022 election need to be challenged to ensure that both human rights and rights of nature will form part of their platform and program of governance.

And, although the resolution is not legally binding, PMPI believes that it will help shape international standards in defending human and nature’s rights and in changing the current global system that marginalizes nature and the poor. For now, it will surely help in building a case related to climate change issues as the climate lawyers believe.