UN votes to make clean environment a right

The UN Human Rights Council has comfortably passed a resolution that recognises access to a safe and healthy environment as a fundamental right despite criticism in the lead-up to the vote from the United Kingdom, the United States and other countries.

The resolution – proposed by Costa Rica, the Maldives, Morocco, Slovenia and Switzerland – was passed with 43 votes in favour and four abstentions from Russia, India, China and Japan, prompting a rare burst of applause in the Geneva forum.

The UK, which was among the critics of the proposal in recent negotiations, voted in favour in a surprise move.

The US did not vote since it is not currently a member of the 47-member Council.

UN votes to make clean environment a right
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