Obstacles In The Way Of Making Healthy Environment Human Rights!

Britain and the US are among the few countries that are putting obstacles in the way of making a clean environment a human right. Although most countries are in support of this proposal. A resolution has been brought in the United Nations this week in which there will be a provision to make healthy environment a human right. However, there are reports that some countries are not in favor of this proposal, including Britain and America. The Human Rights Council in Geneva may adopt this resolution this week. Although the opposing countries may demand voting, but all countries including Costa Rica, Maldives and Switzerland are in support of this proposal. Environmentalists say that if this proposal is passed, pressure will increase on all countries to come together with more than a hundred countries that have already given clean air a legal status.

Important for the vulnerable The World Health Organization estimates that every year more than one crore 37 lakh people are losing their lives due to environmental problems. That is, about a quarter of the total people who die every year are due to the deteriorating environment. Mark Liman of Universal Rights Group, a think tank, says, "We have seen that this right empowers people, especially those who are most affected by environmental threats or climate change. Maybe that's why the US, Russia or Countries like the UK are not liking it." The UN Climate Change Conference (COP26) is to be held in Glasgow next month, for which British Prime Minister Boris Johnson is appointed the responsible official, but his country is opposing the proposal, due to which the UK is being heavily criticized.Center for International Environment Law Sebastine Dike, campaign manager at

Much more needs to be done beyond holding the conference. The UK should come along with most of the countries that are supporting this proposal." See, Yasmin Ahmed, director of Human Rights Watch in Britain, the goddess of plastic, hopes Britain will understand because, in her words, "this proposal is supported by the majority of countries most at risk from environmental change." These are the countries that Boris Johnson has promised to help. Brazil and Russia are also adamant, the US has not reacted to this, although sources say that during the discussion, US representatives expressed legal problems and also said that creating a new right could undermine traditional civil and political rights. 

Sources reveal that apart from Britain and America, Russia and Brazil are also not supporting this proposal and want amendment in it. What happens if you get the rights? The proposal was first thought of in the 1990s but remains in limbo till now. David Boyd, the UN's special envoy on human rights and the environment, says it is already too late. The effect of passing such proposals is far-reaching. In 2010, when the UN passed a resolution to make water and sanitation human rights, countries like Tunisia recognized it by making laws in their own right. Earlier, the historic 1948 Human Rights Declaration later got legal status through an international agreement. may participate in the debate as an observer and is also seeking membership.