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

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 (English | Français | Español)

Inputs received

States

• Austria 1 - 2 - 3 - 4
  
• Colombia
  
• Croatia
  
• Cuba
• Ecuador
• European Union
• Finland
  
• Germany
• Ghana
  
• Ireland
• Italy 1 - 2
  
• Indonesia
  
• Kazakhstan
  
• Kyrgyzstan
  
• Maldives
  
• Mexico
  
• Monaco
  
• North Macedonia
  
• Panama
  
• Singapore
  
• Slovakia
  
• Slovenia
  
• Spain
  
• Sweden
  
• Togo
  
• United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
  

International Organizations

NHRIs

• Commissioner for Fundamental Rights – Hungary 1 - 2 - 3
  
• Defensoria del Peublo – Argentina
  
• Human Rights Commissioner (Ombudsman) – Azerbaijan
  

Civil Society Organizations

• African Earth Jurisprudence and other NGOs 1 - 2
• Asociación Bartolomé Aripaylla Peru
  
• Asociación Generaciones Futuras 1 - 2
  
• BirdLife International
  
• Centre for International Sustainable Development Law
  
• Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL)
  
• Children's Environmental Rights Initiative (CERI)
  
• Child Rights Coalition Asia (CRC Asia)
  
• Child Rights International Network (CRIN)
  
• ClientEarth 1 - 2
• EcoNexus 1 - 2 
  
• Emmaus Aurinkotehdas
  
• FARN 1 - 2
  
• Federation of Community Forestry Users Nepal (FECOFUN)
  
• FIAN International
  
• Greenpeace International 1 - 2
  
• Japan Civil Network for UNDB
  
• Malaysian Nature Society (MNS)
  
• Malaysian Youth Delegation
  
• NOT1MORE
  
• Peru CEPROSI
  
• Philippine Task Force for Indigenous Peoples' Rights
  
• Rainforest Foundation
  
• Resource Africa South Africa
  
• Sociedad Peruana de Derecho Ambiental(SPDA)
  
• Society for Wetland Biodiversity Conservation Nepal
  
• Spanish Committee of Representative of People with Disabilities (CERMI)
  
• Swedwatch
  
• Terra de Direitos
  
• World Animal Net
  
• World Vision 1 - 2
  
• WWF 1 - 2
  
• Joint Submission (Biofuelwatch, ETC Group and Heinrich Böll Foundation)
  
• Joint Submission (Forest Peoples Programme, Natural Justice, Asia Indigenous Peoples Pact Foundation, Swedbio at the Stockholm Resilience Centre, and the ICCA Consortium)