Part of the credit for this major breakthrough must go to Slovenia as a member of the Core Group (Costa Rica, Maldives, Morocco and Switzerland) and co-leader of the process leading towards the resolution, for co-shaping the final text of the resolution and diplomatic efforts to ensure sufficient support among the UN Member States for its adoption.

The adoption of the resolution at the General Assembly is an important milestone in Slovenia’s long years of efforts to combine living environment issues with human rights. The resolution is a follow-up to the 48th meeting of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, where a resolution on the right to a healthy, clean and sustainable environment was adopted as well.

At the global level, the resolution declares the right to a clean, healthy and sustainable living environment, extending the scope of human rights protection to address some of the most pressing challenges of the 21st century. The resolution creates no direct legal commitment for countries; however, it does dictate future global standards and will serve as an incentive for further activities to support the right to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment and for the creation of conditions that reflect the link between a healthy environment and the implementation of human rights. By adopting the resolution, the countries clearly acknowledge the connection between environmental degradation, endangered biodiversity, pollution of natural resources, climate change, and the implementation of human rights. The resolution is an important milestone for the entire international community in terms of interdependence and interconnectedness between the environment and human rights, thus strengthening the hope and trust of future generations in a sustainable future of the planet.