What's New :
Mains PYQ Practice Programme. Visit Here
30th July 2022 (7 Topics)

UN declares access to clean, healthy environment as universal human right

Context

Every person on the planet has the right to live in a clean, healthy environment, declared United Nations (UN) in a historic resolution.

Significance:

  • The landmark development demonstrates that the member states can unite in the collective fight against the triple planetary crisis of climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution.
  • The resolution will help to reduce environmental injustices and protection gaps.
  • It can empower people, especially those in vulnerable situations, including environmental human rights defenders, children, youth, women and indigenous people.
  • The right to a healthy environment is one of the essential requirements for leading a dignified life.
  • People have to hold their governments accountable to get these rights delivered.
  • The declaration adopted by over 160 UN member nations, including India, is not legally binding.
  • States who abstained: China, Russian Federation, Belarus, Cambodia, Iran, Syria, Kyrgyzstan and Ethiopia.
  • It will encourage countries to incorporate the right to a healthy environment in national constitutions and regional treaties.

India’s Stand:

  • India has voted in favour of a UNGA resolution that recognises the right to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment as a human right.
  • However, India dissociated itself from an operative paragraph of the text and voiced its concerns over the procedure and substance of the resolution.
  • India asserted that the UNGA resolutions do not in themselves create binding obligations, and it is only through conventions and treaties that State parties commit to a new human right and undertake appropriate obligations for the realisation of such a right.
  • India points that the resolution fails to have a clear reference to the foundational principle of equity in international environmental law.
  • India had also expressed its concerns clearly and repeatedly, and made constructive proposals to achieve a common ground.

Verifying, please be patient.

Enquire Now