We are pleased to announce that WEEC Network has officially joined the collective effort to advocate for the protection of the right to a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment across Europe.
In response to ongoing environmental challenges and the escalating triple planetary crisis, civil society organizations and social movements from various sectors are uniting to call upon the Member States of the Council of Europe to recognize and safeguard this fundamental human right through an additional protocol to the European Convention on Human Rights.
The importance of this initiative has already been recognized by international bodies such as the UN Human Rights Council and the UN General Assembly, as well as by over 160 countries worldwide. However, the Council of Europe, representing 46 Member States and over 700 million citizens, has yet to officially acknowledge this right within its legal framework.
By endorsing this campaign, WEEC Network joins dozens of organizations across Europe in urging European governments to take concrete steps to protect the environment and ensure the well-being of current and future generations.
The lack of adequate protection of the right to a healthy environment under the European Human Rights framework remains a pressing issue, particularly considering the significant public health impacts of air pollution and the disproportionate effects of climate change on vulnerable communities.
The proposed additional protocol would not only strengthen existing legal frameworks but also empower the European Court of Human Rights to safeguard environmental rights effectively. Furthermore, it would signal Europe’s commitment to addressing the environmental crisis and providing its citizens with enforceable environmental protections.
