GENEVA (16 September 2022) — The UN Special Rapporteur on human rights and the environment, David R. Boyd, will visit Portugal from 19 to 27 September.
The Special Rapporteur’s visit at the invitation of the Government follows a challenging summer from a climate perspective, as heat waves and wildfires have seriously affected the country, and elsewhere around the world.
“The aim of my visit is to learn about good practices and challenges in the implementation of human rights obligations relating to climate change and environmental protection,” Boyd said. “I am particularly interested in topics such as air quality, biodiversity, climate, food systems and water-related issues.”
The independent expert said Portugal had included the right to a healthy environment in its constitution in 1976, offering decades of experience in implementing and fulfilling this human right at the national level.
Boyd noted the Human Rights Council and UN General Assembly had recently recognised the right to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment.
During his visit, he will meet Government officials, representatives of civil society, academics, youth and other stakeholders.
Boyd will present his preliminary observations on the visit at a news conference on 27 September at 10:00 am local time at Mar da Palha Auditorium in the Oceanario de Lisboa, Esplanada Dom Carlos I s/nº, 1990-005 in Lisbon. Access to the press conference is strictly limited to journalists.
The Special Rapporteur will present a comprehensive report on the visit to the UN Human Rights Council in March 2023.