GI-ESCR delivers statement at the Human Rights Council

GI-ESCR delivered an oral statement at the 49th session of the UN Human Rights Council in reaction to the UN Special Rapporteur on the issue of human rights obligations relating to the enjoyment of a safe, clean, healthy and sustainable environment’s latest report on non-toxic environments.

In his report, the Special Rapporteur highlighted the prodigious volumes of pollution and toxic chemicals from fossil fuels which often have a detrimental impact on people’s human rights, such as the right to a safe and healthy environment, to health, and to life.

Therefore, GI highlighted in its statement the need to move away from our current fossil-fuel led energy system towards a sustainable, green energy model. However, large-scale capital and land-intensive renewable energy projects can pose a threat to human rights if they are not sufficiently scrutinised and implemented without a human rights compass to guide them. This is exemplified by the Electricité de France case in which the Zapoteca peoples in Mexico suffer violations of their human rights due to the construction of a windfarm by the company.

The statement can be listened to here, at 2:08:38.

If you want to learn more about our work on human rights obligations relating to the enjoyment of a safe, clean, healthy and sustainable environment click here.