Air pollution driving widespread human rights violations: UN expert

GENEVA – The Special Rapporteur on the human right to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment, Astrid Puentes Riaño, called on States, entities and businesses to address the dual public health and human rights crisis of air pollution.

“Continued inaction on air pollution is a systemic failure,” Puentes Riaño said. “Under international law, States are required to act on the evidence they have.”

In a new report presented to the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, the expert highlighted priority actions centering on human rights to advance clean air, and to protect public health and the right to a healthy environment.

“Despite clean air being vital and a substantive element of the human right to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment, most of the global population do not breathe healthy air due to insufficient health and environmental protections, and because economic growth and industrial activities are too often prioritised over human rights.”

According to the World Health Organisation, air pollution is linked to approximately 6-8 million premature deaths worldwide each year, and is associated with 83% of noncommunicable diseases, including heart disease, stroke, cancer and chronic respiratory illnesses. Evidence shows that air pollution affects every organ of the human body and contributes to long-term disability and reduced quality of life.

These impacts are not shared equally. Children, women, the elderly, pregnant people, outdoor workers and those with pre-existing health conditions face disproportionately high exposure and risk levels, often with no choice.

“Where exposure is shaped by immutable factors, air pollution increases inequality and discrimination” the expert said. “The right to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment cannot be realised where entire communities have no choice but to breathe unclean air.”

The report notes that under international human rights law, States have clear obligations to prevent foreseeable harm, regulate and monitor polluting activities, ensure access to information and to protect populations at heightened risk.

The Special Rapporteur also highlighted the responsibilities of businesses to avoid causing or contributing to air pollution, conduct robust human rights and environmental due diligence, protect workers’ health and reduce emissions in line with scientific standards.

The report makes several recommendations for States, cities, subnational governments, business and international organisations, including ensuring integrated air quality, human rights and climate change planning, identifying air pollution hotspots and prioritising interventions to protect vulnerable populations.

“Air pollution is not merely an environmental concern, it is a critical issue that is already costing millions of lives and trillions of dollars in economic loss. But it doesn’t have to be this way,” the expert said. “Protecting people from air pollution is not only possible – it is required. Clean air is a fundamental human right, not a privilege.”