Hailing General Assembly Historic Resolution on Healthy, Sustainable Environment, Secretary-General Urges States to Make Text ‘a Reality for Everyone, Everywhere’

The following statement was issued today by the Spokesman for UN Secretary-General António Guterres:

The Secretary-General welcomes the adoption by the General Assembly of its historic resolution recognizing the right to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment.

This landmark development demonstrates that Member States can come together in our collective fight against the triple planetary crises of climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution.  The international community has given universal recognition to this right and brought us closer to making it a reality for all.

The resolution will help reduce environmental injustices, close protection gaps and empower people, especially those that are in vulnerable situations, including environmental human rights defenders, children, youth, women and indigenous peoples. The resolution will also help States accelerate the implementation of their environmental and human rights obligations and commitments.

However, the adoption of the resolution is only the beginning.  The Secretary-General urges States to make the right to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment a reality for everyone, everywhere.