The human right to a healthy environment: implications for climate action

The final hours of COP27 saw a dramatic shift from entrenched gridlock to historical firsts. This included recognition of the human right to a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment in the outcome text1—called the Sharm el-Sheikh Implementation Plan. This was accompanied by a breakthrough commitment by the world’s wealthiest nations (and highest cumulative emitters) to establish a fund to address climate impacts (“loss and damage”) in vulnerable countries,2 and an inaugural mention of “food” in a COP summary text.3 Meanwhile, despite support from 80 countries including island nations, Latin American countries, the European Union, India, and the United Kingdom, language on fossil fuel phase-out in the cover decision remained unimproved since COP26 in Glasgow, (i.e. the wording remains “phasedown of unabated4 coal power”). Now, governments prepare to meet in Bonn, Germany, for the annual interim negotiations intended to advance progress between COPs—that is, the 58th meeting of the UNFCCC Subsidiary…
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