UN Human Rights Council Makes Waves: Ocean Health Now Recognized as a Human Rights Issue

For the first time, the United Nations Human Rights Council has formally acknowledged the considerable impact that plastic pollution, climate change, and biodiversity loss have on the ocean and, by extension, on the enjoyment of human rights. This new resolution highlights the growing recognition of the interconnections between environmental health and fundamental human rights, including the right to a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment.

The Council emphasizes that addressing environmental degradation is essential to safeguarding this right. It underlines the importance of international cooperation, adherence to existing environmental agreements, and the implementation of legal frameworks rooted in environmental law. Challenges such as climate change, unsustainable resource use, pollution, and the decline in biodiversity are recognized as factors that can impede the realization of environmental rights and therefore require coordinated responses at all levels.

The resolution further stresses that ocean health is closely tied to human wellbeing. As the ocean is vital to all life on Earth, its protection and sustainable management are seen as integral to ensuring a range of human rights. The widespread issue of plastic pollution, including microplastics, is noted as a transboundary concern that affects ecosystems and living conditions, highlighting the need for enhanced international collaboration.

In the context of climate change, the Council notes the importance of global cooperation and inclusive responses that strengthen resilience and protect those most vulnerable to environmental risks. The role of early warning systems is also emphasized as a critical tool for reducing harm and ensuring preparedness.

The resolution encourages States to actively contribute to upcoming multilateral efforts, such as the 2025 UN Ocean Conference, and to incorporate environmental rights into legal and policy frameworks. It also references the advisory opinion by the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS) on climate change and acknowledges the recent report by the Special Rapporteur on the right to a healthy environment, which explores the relationship between ocean health and human rights.

This development reflects an evolving understanding within international human rights discourse and marks a step forward in linking environmental protection with the broader framework of human rights.