“Bold action” required following recognition of the human right to a healthy environment

By Melanie Montalban, Managing Lawyer – ACT and Claudia Hodge, EDO volunteer and Youth-Chair of the Environment and Human Rights Subcommittee, Australian Lawyers for Human Rights ^*

In a landmark decision on 8 October 2021, the UN Human Rights Council (HRC) recognised the human right to a safe, clean, healthy and sustainable environment by adopting Resolution 48/13 (Resolution). ^[1]

The Resolution recognises that a healthy environment is fundamental to the enjoyment of all human rights, and vice versa. The Resolution also encourages States to adopt their own domestic policies for the enjoyment of the right.^[2] The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights has called on States to take “bold actions” to give “prompt and real effect” to the right following its recognition by the HRC.[3]

Human rights are inadequately and inconsistently protected in Australia.  For example, Australia does not have a national charter of rights, and only 3 out of 8 Australian states and territories have enacted human rights legislation.[4] It is past time that Australian governments enshrine the human right in our domestic legislation, bringing Australia in line with the overwhelming majority of UN Member States (155 out of 193) that already recognise the right to a healthy environment.[5]

What is the right to a healthy environment?

The right to a healthy environment is comprised of substantive rights,[6] such as the rights to life, health, food, water, housing and culture, and procedural rights, such as the rights to information, participation in decision-making and access to justice. In addition, it prohibits discrimination and protects the rights of the most vulnerable to environmental harm, such as Indigenous peoples and local communities, women, children and other marginalised groups. The latter is particularly important for environmental justice, which recognises the disproportionate impact of environmental degradation on vulnerable groups who are often the least responsible for such harm.

What are the benefits of recognising the right to a healthy environment?

Over 100 countries have formally recognised the right to a healthy environment in their domestic legislation. Those countries have since witnessed a number of positive developments in law reform and in better enforcement of environmental laws, regulations and policies.[7] However, the real proof that there are tangible benefits of recognising the right to a healthy environment is that formal recognition of the right has in fact resulted in healthier people and ecosystems. Evidence shows that recognition of the right to a healthy environment has resulted in millions of people, including vulnerable populations, breathing cleaner air, gaining access to safe drinking water, and reducing their exposure to toxic substances, amongst other positive outcomes both for human health and the environment.[8]  

In Australia, it is clear that everyday Australians are bearing the brunt of the impacts of climate change and environmental degradation on their health. Many people still lack access to clean water and effective sanitation, including people living in remote communities in Western Australia,[9] Queensland,[10] and the Northern Territory.[11] Air pollution continues to be a widespread issue in Australia, with 90% of the burden of air pollution falling on low to middle income households.[12] During the devastating 2019/20 bushfire season, Canberra was significantly impacted by air pollution from bushfire smoke. It recorded the worst air quality out of any city in the world,[13] and spent more than one third of that summer living with hazardous air quality.[14] A total of 3,094 homes were lost across NSW, Victoria, Queensland, ACT, Western Australia and South Australia, and 33 people died.[15]

Formal recognition of the right to a healthy environment will allow individuals in Australia to rely on that right, and will empower Australian governments to uphold the right in environmental laws, policies and decision-making. In Australia, enshrining the right in domestic legislation is a critical step for Australians to start seeing real and positive outcomes both in our environment and in human health and quality of life.

What is the legal status of the right to a healthy environment in Australia?

The right to a healthy environment is not enshrined in any of Australia’s state, territory or federal laws.^[16] However, this represents a unique opportunity for Australian governments to take bold action and give effect to the international recognition of the right to a healthy environment. In particular, jurisdictions with existing human rights legislation – the ACT, Victoria, and Queensland – have an opportunity to enshrine the right and better protect the health and wellbeing of their residents and their unique environments.  

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