On the sidelines of the 55th session of the Human Rights Council, the Geneva Rights and Environment Talks aim to harness the opportunity of this moment of the year to reflect on the challenges posed by the rapid decline of nature and biodiversity, and on how Geneva contributes to bringing together the actors working towards ensuring the right to a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment is upheld for all.
Nature is fundamental to the well-being of all people. Healthy ecosystems underpin diverse livelihoods and economies, cultures, and the enjoyment of a wide range of human rights, as framed by the right to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment.
The UN Special Rapporteur on human rights and the environment, David Boyd, emphasized in his 2020 report to the UN General Assembly, “All human rights ultimately depend on a healthy biosphere.” The triple planetary crisis of climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution caused by human activities impacts ecosystems, even leading to possible collapses, affecting access to clean air to breathe, safe water to drink or nutritious food to eat.
Nature-based solutions (NbS) have been recognized in various international bodies and frameworks as a way to tackle the environmental emergencies that we face today. Experts in this session will reflect on these recent developments, including the recent UNEA-6 outcomes, as well as on existing human rights obligations of States, businesses, and organizations when it comes to the implementation of nature-based solutions.
More information on the Geneva Environment Network website.
