Posted on July, 20 2023

Today, the prestigious 2023 United Nations Human Rights Prize has been awarded to the Global Coalition of Civil Society, Indigenous Peoples, Social Movements, and Local Communities for the Universal Recognition of the Human Right to a Clean, Healthy, and Sustainable Environment for its role in advocating universal recognition of this right by the UN General Assembly (UNGA).

Awarded once every five years to five recipients, this is the first time that the UN Human Rights Prize has been given to a global coalition. By recognising decades of campaigning by hundreds of organisations, the prize highlights the importance and power of collective action and advocacy in advancing the protection of our planet and fulfilment of human rights.

Elaine Geyer-Allély, Interim Leader, Global Governance Practice, WWF International, said: "At a time when civic space is under threat around the world, the UN Prize for Human Rights for the campaign for universal recognition of the right to a healthy environment is testament to the power of collective effort and the importance of civil society in shaping a fairer, greener future. Together, we must now push for further constitutional and statutory recognition of the right so that it delivers tangible benefits for people and the planet."

The prize highlights the need to protect civic space and participatory decision-making for everyone, and to respect and support environmental and human rights defenders who are persecuted worldwide.

The prize is also a call to action for governments, businesses, institutions, and citizens everywhere to ensure that the right to a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment is guaranteed, legally protected, and effectively implemented so that it can be enjoyed by all.

Recognised by UNGA last July, the right to a clean, healthy, sustainable environment - which includes the rights to clean air, a safe climate, healthy and sustainable food, safe water and adequate sanitation, non toxic environments, and healthy ecosystems - is integral to environmental justice and democracy, and provides a foundation for protecting the rights of future generations.

Where it has already been recognised as a constitutional or statutory right at a national level, it has sparked stronger environmental laws and policies, greater public participation, and improved environmental outcomes that have delivered real benefits for people and the planet.

The announcement of the prize comes just days ahead of the first anniversary of the UNGA’s 2022 recognition of the human right to a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment which filled a longstanding gap in the international human rights framework. Since then, millions of people around the world have continued to experience the accelerating impacts of the triple planetary crisis of biodiversity loss, climate change, and pollution, exacerbated by systemic inequality, that is contributing to ongoing violations of the right to a healthy environment.

The Global Coalition for recognition of the right to a healthy environment gathered 1,350 endorsements from 75 countries and shared over 30,300 online messages calling for a #HealthyEnvironmentForAll.

The prize will be presented in New York on December 10, which also marks the 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

Read the full coalition press release and reactions from other members of the coalition here.