Human Rights Day:The Road to a Clean, Healthy and Sustainable Environment

Human Rights Day:The Road to a Clean, Healthy and Sustainable Environment

"To deny people their human rights is to challenge their very humanity." – Nelson Mandela

On Human Rights Day 2024, we come together to celebrate the values of equality, dignity, and justice, with this year’s theme focusing on "Our Rights, Our Future, Right Now". These values must not only extend to civil and political rights but also to environmental rights, emphasizing the profound link between a clean and sustainable environment and human dignity. As the world grapples with the urgent challenges of climate change, pollution, and resource depletion, businesses play a crucial role in ensuring the fundamental right to a healthy environment is upheld for all people.

The Right to a Healthy Environment and Climate Justice

The United Nations has acknowledged that environmental harm — such as air and water pollution, deforestation, and climate change — directly impacts the enjoyment of a wide range of human rights, from the right to health to the right to food and water. In fact, the UN’s Human Rights Council has stated that a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment is integral to the enjoyment of human rights.

Climate justice builds upon this concept, emphasizing that the effects of climate change disproportionately impact vulnerable populations, such as indigenous communities, low-income groups, and women in developing countries like India.

According to the World Health Organization,

• 3.6 billion people already live in areas highly susceptible to climate change. 
• Between 2030 and 2050, climate change is expected to cause approximately 250 000 additional deaths per year, from undernutrition, malaria, diarrhoea and heat stress alone. 
• The direct damage costs to health is estimated to be between US$ 2–4 billion per year by 2030. 
• Areas with weak health infrastructure – mostly in developing countries – will be the least able to cope without assistance to prepare and respond.

Businesses, as powerful agents of economic activity and social influence, must recognize that their actions can either exacerbate or help mitigate these inequalities. A clean, healthy and sustainable environment should not be a luxury enjoyed by a select few; it must be a fundamental right for all.

Businesses’ Role in Ensuring Environmental Rights

As climate change accelerates, businesses have an undeniable responsibility to prioritize environmental sustainability in their operations. Not only does this help protect human health and ecosystems, but it also aligns with the growing consumer demand for ethical and sustainable business practices. According to a McKinsey & Company report, 60% of consumers are willing to change their purchasing behaviors to reduce their environmental impact. Businesses that take proactive steps toward sustainability will not only contribute to climate justice but will also position themselves for long-term success.

Here are a few specific actions businesses can take to support the right to a sustainable environment:

1. Sustainable Operations: Companies must reduce their carbon footprint and resource consumption. According to the Paris Agreement, to meet global climate goals, carbon emissions must be reduced by 45% by 2030. By adopting renewable energy solutions and implementing energy efficiency measures, companies can dramatically lower their environmental impact.
2. Support Climate Justice Policies: Businesses should advocate for policies that address both the environmental and social dimensions of sustainability. This includes supporting legislation that curbs greenhouse gas emissions, enforces carbon pricing, and fosters clean energy innovation. This is crucial in countries like India, where climate change exacerbates poverty, inequality, and access to basic services.
3. Transparency and Accountability: Businesses must embrace transparency in their environmental reporting. In 2022, the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) reported that 60% of global companies were failing to set credible net-zero goals, and only 23% had effective strategies in place to meet them. Reporting progress against sustainability targets and ensuring accountability through third-party verification can build trust and drive meaningful change.

Long-Term Sustainability: The Path Forward

The responsibility for a sustainable future extends beyond just environmental considerations — it requires a long-term vision. At GREW, we are committed to ensuring that our projects are not just beneficial today, but also sustainable for future generations. Long-term sustainability is key to meeting the environmental rights of individuals and communities. This means focusing on:

• Scalable and replicable solutions that create lasting positive impacts.
• Investing in emerging technologies, such as solar storage and energy-efficient appliances, to ensure that clean energy remains accessible and affordable in the long term.
• Engaging local communities to build resilience against climate impacts, ensuring they can adapt and thrive in an increasingly unpredictable world.

A Call to Action for Businesses

On this Human Rights Day, we urge all businesses to take meaningful action toward ensuring the right to a healthy environment for everyone. From adopting renewable energy to advocating for stronger climate policies and ensuring transparency in sustainability efforts, businesses must lead the charge in fostering climate justice.

At GREW, we believe that dignity, freedom, and justice for all start with a commitment to a clean and sustainable environment. Let’s work together to create a future where human rights and environmental sustainability are inextricably linked, and where every person, regardless of where they live, has access to the healthy, thriving planet they deserve.