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call for input | Special Procedures

Call for inputs on healthy ecosystems and human rights: sustaining the foundations of life

Issued by

Special Rapporteur on human rights and the environment

Last updated

11 August 2020

Closed

Submissions now online (See below)

Purpose: To inform the Special Rapporteur's analysis and contribute to his report, which will be presented to the General Assembly in October 2020

Background

"Goals for conserving and sustainably using nature and achieving sustainability cannot be met by current trajectories, and goals for 2030 and beyond may only be achieved through transformative changes across economic, social, political and technological factors."
  • - Summary for policymakers of the global assessment report on biodiversity and ecosystem services, Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services, 2019

There is now global agreement that human rights norms apply to a broad spectrum of environmental issues, including biological diversity (the full range of life on Earth) and healthy ecosystems (the foundation upon which all life depends). The Special Rapporteur on human rights and the environment, Dr. David Boyd, is working to provide additional clarity regarding the substantive rights and obligations that are essential to the enjoyment of a safe, clean, healthy and sustainable environment.

He has submitted reports on clean air1, a safe climate2, and good practices on the promotion and implementation of the right to a safe, clean, healthy and sustainable environment3. He is now preparing a thematic report focusing on human rights and associated obligations related to healthy biodiversity and ecosystems. For that purpose, he is seeking inputs on the topic from States and stakeholders through responses to the brief questionnaire below.

Key questions and types of input sought

  1. Examples of ways in which declining biodiversity and degraded ecosystems are already having adverse impacts on human rights
  2. Specific obligations of States and responsibilities of businesses in addressing the main direct drivers of harm to biodiversity and ecosystems (land conversion, loss and degradation of habitat, etc.) and the indirect drivers (unsustainable production and consumption, rapid human population growth, etc.)
  3. Examples of constitutional provisions, legislation, regulations, policies, programs or other measures that employ a rights-based approach to prevent, reduce, or eliminate harm to biodiversity and ecosystems, or to restore and rehabilitate biodiversity and ecosystems

Access the questionnaire (EnglishFrançais | Español)

 

1. A/HRC/40/55
2. A/74/161
3. A/HRC/43/5

Inputs Received

Inputs Received

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