27 September 2022
LISBON/GENEVA (27 September 2022) -- Portugal’s global leadership in
recognising the human right to a healthy and ecologically balanced environment
needs to be matched by urgent, accelerated actions to address the climate
emergency, a UN expert said today.
“This year Portugal has endured more than 1,000 deaths related to
heatwaves, lost 110,000 hectares of forest to wildfires, and suffered a severe
drought affecting the entire nation, with enormous impacts on human rights,
including the right to a healthy environment,” David Boyd, the Special
Rapporteur on human rights and the environment, said after a nine-day visit to
the country.
In his end-of-mission statement, Boyd issued recommendations on a series
of issues, including Portugal’s legal framework for human rights and the
environment, the climate crisis, air pollution, the rights of children, solid
waste management and the transition to a green economy.
“Portugal has a very strong legal framework for protecting human rights
and the environment, from the pioneering provisions in the 1976 Constitution
(Article 66) to the new Basic Law on Climate”, the UN expert said. Further, key
actions have been taken, such as closing the last coal-fired power plants,
achieving 99 per cent access to safe drinking water and creating an
Environmental Fund with a 2022 budget of more than €1.1 billion.
“However, Portugal needs to raise its
level of ambition and most importantly increase the pace of implementation in
addressing key human rights concerns such as air pollution and waste
management, applying a rights-based approach to all climate and environmental
action,” Boyd said.
Portugal has huge solar potential but only ranks 13th in the EU in
generating electricity from sunlight. Wind energy production has only grown two
per cent annually in Portugal since 2012, compared to more than 20 per cent
annually for the world. Recycling rates have failed to reach EU targets, air
pollution in urban areas -- mainly from traffic -- exceeds healthy levels, and
many low-income Portuguese still live in buildings that are not energy
efficient.
To prevent wildfires and protect the population, more sustainable
landscape management is urgently needed such as replacing the coverage of
non-native species like eucalyptus with native species that are more fire
resistant -- oak, cork and chestnut -- and replacing large monocultures with
diverse mosaics of farms, pastures and forests.
Actions to advance the transition to a green economy, from large
renewable energy projects to proposed lithium mines, must not proceed unless
they meet the highest environmental standards, maximize public benefits, and
respect human rights.
The Special Rapporteur noted that Portuguese youth are among the most
concerned and outspoken in the world about the climate crisis. “To fulfil their
rights, the government must give them a seat at the table, listen to their
concerns and act upon their recommendations.”
During his visit, Boyd met with Government officials from national and
local governments, representatives of civil society, business, academia, youth,
UN agencies and other experts. He had field visits to Porto, Covilhã,
Serra da Estrela, Boticas, Covas do Barroso and Reserva Natural das Dunas de
São Jacinto.
The Special Rapporteur will present a full report to the UN Human Rights
Council in March 2023.
ENDS
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