Our health is strongly influenced by the surrounding environment: air, water, and climate. Therefore, our right to health is also inseparably linked to our right to a healthy environment.
The right to a healthy environment is not expressly mentioned in most international conventions. Usually, it is ‘deduced’ from a person’s right to health or the right to private life. But, this does not mean that it is not a separate right in the national legislation of certain states.
The right to a healthy environment includes:
- an adequate supply of safe and potable water;
- access to basic sanitation;
- the prevention of exposure to harmful substances (e.g., radiation or harmful chemicals)
- the prevention of exposure to noise pollution
- environmental conditions that negatively affect health, etc.
On 28 July 2022, the United Nations General Assembly passed a resolution, recognising the right to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment as a human right.
The General Part of the Environmental Code Act states:
“Everyone is entitled to expect that the environment concerning them directly meets the health and well-being needs.”.
In Estonia, the protection of the environment and its quality is regulated by numerous laws: General Part of the Environmental Code Act, Environmental Charges Act, Atmospheric Air Protection Act etc.