Special Rapporteur on human rights and the environment David Boyd on Monday urged governments to take bold action to beat air pollution, improve health, address climate change and fulfill their human rights obligations.
“Air pollution is a silent, invisible and prolific killer that is responsible for the premature death of 7 million people each year, disproportionately affecting women, children and poor communities,” said the independent UN expert ahead of World Environment Day that falls on June 5.
Some 7 million people die prematurely every year from air pollution. Among the 7 million, 600,000 are children while 90 percent of world’s population breathe polluted air, according to a message received from Geneva.
He said, failing to ensure clean air constitutes a violation of the rights to life, health and wellbeing, as well as the right to live in a healthy environment. “States must take urgent action to improve air quality to fulfill their human rights obligations.”
Boyd said clean air is a core component of the right to a healthy environment, together with clean water and adequate sanitation, healthy and sustainably produced food, non-toxic environment, healthy biodiversity and a safe climate.
He said the right to a healthy environment is fundamental to human wellbeing and is legally recognised by over 150 states at the national and regional levels. “It should be globally reaffirmed to ensure the enjoyment of this right by everyone, everywhere while upholding the human rights principles of universality and non-discrimination.”
Boyd, also an associate professor of law, policy, and sustainability at the University of British Columbia, said there are numerous success stories of drastically reducing air pollution from across the world, including China, who is hosting World Environment Day this year. “These stories prove that air pollution is a preventable problem.”
