Climate change and continued environmental degradation on ecosystems are one of the greatest threat facing the human rights, as they pose serious risks to the fundamental rights to life, health, water, food, housing and an adequate standard of living for individuals. They have a particularly negative impact on the poorest countries in the world and the rights of most vulnerable people, the rights of indigenous peoples and of natural-resource-dependent communities.
While international recognition of the relationship between human rights, climate and environment has grown, the European Parliament and its Subcommittee on Human Rights are strongly committed to the development of EU specific external policies and sustainable actions in this field. Parliament's objective is to counter the negative effect of climate change and environmental degradation on the enjoyment of human rights. It also aims at enhancing human rights obligations to a safe, clean, healthy and sustainable environment and access to natural resources, which is a way to better protect climate and ecosystems. The Parliament has always highlighted the obligations and responsibility of states and businesses in this regard, and it works with the latter as well as with environmental human rights defenders to progress towards this goal.
European Parliament resolution of 19 May 2021 on the effects of climate change on human rights and the role of environmental defenders on this matter Report on the EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030: Bringing nature back into our livesAccess to water as a human right - the external dimension Source :
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