Seventy-five years post the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights by the General Assembly, the enduring relevance of its principles is unmistakable. The vitality of respecting human rights is emphasized, as it signifies not just the respect for others but also for oneself. The declaration advocates for the equality of all individuals, communities, and nations, discouraging any sense of superiority. In light of the triple planetary crisis involving climate change, nature and biodiversity loss, and pollution and waste, humanity’s collective future hinges on unity rather than division. The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) is reaffirming its commitment to place human rights at the core of its efforts, recognizing the interconnectedness of environmental challenges and the imperative to address them through a lens of shared human values.
The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) is making a dedicated commitment to champion the world’s most recent entitlement: the right to a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment. Recognizing the indispensable role of the environment in sustaining human life and well-being, UNEP acknowledges its crucial underpinning of sustainable development. Beyond its intrinsic value, the environment serves as the linchpin for realizing numerous other fundamental rights. UNEP’s pledge underscores the interconnectedness of environmental rights with broader human rights and underscores the imperative to safeguard our planet for the present and future generations. Through this commitment, UNEP aims to advance a comprehensive framework that ensures the protection and enhancement of the environment as an essential component of the overall human experience.
UNEP pledges to support environmental human rights defenders. These brave individuals and communities face intimidation, criminalization and death when they stand up to those who would devastate nature for profit. We stand with them.
UNEP pledges to support Member States to uphold the rights of Indigenous Peoples – the best stewards of biodiversity and nature. We will work to incorporate their knowledge, innovations and practices into conservation and restoration strategies – including through the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework.
UNEP pledges commitment to the principles of equity, non-discrimination, equal participation, accountability and access to justice. Because there can be no better future – for nature, the climate or people – without justice, equity and true inclusion.
And we at UNEP will work with our partners, including the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights and the United Nations Development Programme. Together, we can bolster human rights and undo human wrongs to the environment, for the benefit of all.
