In the upcoming Plenary Session of the Parliament, a Resolution plan is being led for the adoption of Resolution A/RES/76/300 of the United Nations General Assembly concerning the human right to a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment, following a proposal by MP Alexandra Attalides.
During the session of the Parliamentary Committee on Human Rights on Monday, its President and AKEL MP, Irene Charalambidou, read out the resolution proposal.
In statements after the session, Charalambidou expressed confidence that since the resolution had been adopted by all members of the Committee, it would also be adopted by the Plenary.
Committee members discussed amendments to the proposal.
Among other additions, the resolution includes a provision stating that “the Republic of Cyprus must promptly prepare all management plans for Natura 2000 areas, introduce necessary conservation measures, and take immediate, drastic actions to address all violations.”
Charalampos Theopemptou, MP of the Ecologists’ Movement, stated that every year there are 600-800 premature deaths in Cyprus due to poor air quality, based on data from the European Environment Agency.
In statements after the Committee session, independent MP Alexandra Attalides noted that the right to a healthy environment is a fundamental human right, but it has not yet been enshrined in international conventions or the Constitution of the Republic of Cyprus, even though aspects of it are recognised by EU laws.
Furthermore, Attalides pointed out that recently the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg ruled on a case against Switzerland filed by four elderly individuals and an NGO for failing to address climate change and recognising the impact of this failure on human rights, such as the right to life as enshrined in Article 2 of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR).
