Principles and Policy Guidance on Children’s Rights to a Safe, Clean, Healthy and Sustainable Environment in the ASEAN Region

The global environmental crisis undermines the fundamental rights of every child in countless ways through the climate emergency, air pollution, lack of access to safe and sufficient water and the rapid decline of biodiversity. We see this with unprecedented clarity now that the most vulnerable and marginalized children and communities are grappling with compounding challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. The current pandemic has highlighted that a failure to take action to address all aspects of the global environmental crisis threatens a wide range of human rights including rights to life, health, food, water, culture, a safe, clean, healthy and sustainable environment, and of course children’s rights.