United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) has adopted a resolution recognising the critical connection between plastic pollution, ocean protection, and the right to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment for the very first time.

Key Highlights of the Resolution

• The protection of marine ecosystems is part of States’ obligations to protect human rights.
• The degradation of the ocean threatens humanity and exacerbates inequalities and disproportionately affects marginalised populations.
• Despite over 600 agreements, marine ecosystems face pressing threats including climate change, overfishing, extractivism, pollution, and deep-sea mining.

Interlinkages between Human Rights and Ocean Protection

• Right to food: Healthy oceans, through fisheries, provide high-quality protein and micronutrients to millions. E.g., coral reefs support 500 million people with food.
• Right to Livelihood: Nearly 2.4 billion people live within 100 km of coasts, many depending on fisheries, tourism, and ecosystems like mangroves for income.
• Right to healthy environment: Ocean regulates the Earth’s climate, filters air and water, recycles nutrients and mitigates the impact of natural disasters.
• Rights of future generations: Oceans as a carbon sink ensures stable climate for the future generations.