Right to a healthy environment in the European Union especially in the context of the war in Ukraine

Context:

The conflict in Ukraine is causing severe environmental damage and endangering human health and well-being. This includes ecosystem degradation, air and water pollution, and contamination of arable and pasture fields, which threatens agricultural production and exposing global food security. The EESC urges the EU to help protect and restore the environment and address the long-term consequences of the war. The EU should work with national, regional, and local organizations, as well as private sectors and civil society, to identify and eliminate environmental risks and improve its approach to ensuring environmental protection as a fundamental human right.

Key points:

The Section for Agriculture, Rural Development and the Environment ( NAT) has adopted an opinion Right to a healthy environment in the European Union especially in the context of the war in Ukraine.

In the opinion, the EESC:

• underlines that the right to a healthy environment is crucial for the social and economic welfare of people globally, including in Europe. According to the ILO, nearly 40% of jobs worldwide rely on a healthy climate. Despite the EU passing many laws, their implementation often falls short. Therefore, the EESC demands more action to truly enhance the effectiveness of existing legal measures.

• believes that with Russia's war in Ukraine and potential accession to the EU, it is crucial for the EU and its Member States to uphold the right to a healthy environment. The EESC highlights the pressing need to enhance environmental protection to protect fundamental rights in the EU and beyond, particularly given the environmental harm resulting from the war in Ukraine.

• believes that Russia's actions constitute ecocide and is urging for the inclusion of "ecocide" as a criminal offense in EU law.

Section:

Section for Agriculture, Rural Development and the Environment (NAT)

Rapporteur:

Ozlem Yildirim (Workers - GR II / France)

Reference:

EESC-2022-05826-00-00-AS-TRA-EN

Date of the section meeting: 13April 2023

Results of the section meeting vote: Adopted unanimously by 62 votes

Date of adoption at the EESC plenary session: 27 April  2023

Results of the plenary session vote: XX in favour, X against, X abstentions

Contacts:

Katerina Serifi

Press Officer

Tel.: +32 (0) 473 72 29 99

Email: aikaterini.serifi@eesc.europa.eu

Caroline Verhelst

Administrator

Tel.: +32 (0) 2 546 9497

email: Caroline.Verhelst@eesc.europa.eu