The decision encourages countries to implement their international commitments and increase efforts to realize them. The document also emphasizes that everyone will suffer the aggravated effects of environmental crises if they do not cooperate now to prevent them.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres reacted to the "historic resolution" by stressing that the document demonstrates that member states can unite in the collective struggle against the triple planetary crisis of climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution.

In a statement, he said the decision will help reduce environmental injustices, cover protection gaps, and empower people, especially those in vulnerability, including environmental human rights defenders, children, youth, women, and indigenous peoples.

The UN chief believes the measure will also help states accelerate the implementation of their environmental and human rights obligations and commitments. Guterres calls on countries to make the right "a reality for everyone, everywhere."

The text was presented by Costa Rica, Maldives, Morocco, Slovenia and Switzerland in June. One of the fundamentals of the document is that the right to the healthy environment is related to current international law and its promotion requires the full implementation of multilateral environmental agreements.

For special rapporteur on human rights and the environment, David Boyd, the resolution "has the potential to be a turning point for humanity, improving the lives and enjoyment of the human rights of billions of individuals, as well as the health of the planet."

He said everyone's health and quality of life directly rely on clean air to breathe, drinking water, sustainably produced food to eat, non-toxic environments, safe climate and biodiversity, and healthy ecosystems. The expert stresses that the human right to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment, universally recognized, includes all these essential elements.

Source: Um só Planeta