Redcliffe Partners, Clifford Chance, and over 100 law firms around the world have participated in a global mapping survey for the United Nations Special Rapporteur for Human Rights and the Environment related to the existence (or non-existence) of a fundamental human right to a healthy environment.
The results of the survey were presented in a reported presented to the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva on March 2, 2020, by David Boyd, the UN Special Rapporteur for Human Rights and the Environment, titled "Good Practices of States at the National and Regional Levels with Regard to Human Rights Obligations Relating to the Environment."
According to a Redcliffe Partners press release, "the report was based on a global mapping survey aimed at determining which of the 193 UN Member States recognize and implement a human right to a healthy environment in their domestic law." According to the firm, "19% (37 of 193) of the Member States of the United Nations still do not recognize in law the fundamental human right to a healthy environment."
Susan Kath, Director of the Environment Program at the Cyrus R. Vance Center for International Justice, said: "We hope the research will further the discussion around global environmental and human rights, and ensure protection of the fundamental principles of environmental law. Despite the progress made to date, there is still a lot of work to be done to fully recognize the right to a safe, healthy, and sustainable environment. The report and the subsequent discussions at the local, national and supranational levels, will ensure that the topic remains a priority and that we build legal capacity and knowledge."
The project team from Redcliffe Partners included Partner Anastasia Usova, Associate Anton Rekun, and Junior Associate Christina Petrina, Junior Associate.
