United Nations Guidance Note on Environmental Human Rights Defenders

United Nations 3 years ago

This guidance note is prepared as part of the Secretary- General’s Call to Action for Human Rights in order to increase support from the United Nations on the ground to Environmental Human Rights Defenders (EHRDs). It outlines concrete actions which UN Country Teams (UNCTs) may take, including under the lead of the Resident Coordinators as appropriate, in order to better protect EHRDs, in their work to support governments on the ground.  This includes – but is not limited to: empowering EHRDs to participate in decision-making, contributing to the protection of EHRDs through the work of the UN, promoting a safe and enabling civic space, strengthening access to justice for EHRDs and engaging with businesses to enhance the protection of EHRDs. The aim of the guidance note is to support UNCTs worldwide who have identified environmental concerns as a priority issue to undertake the following three actions, as part of their broader work on environment, while also encouraging all UNCTs to go further by consulting and using this guide: Engage regularly with civil society groups to understand trends and emerging threats to EHRDs and build safe spaces for EHRDs’ engagement with the UN. Consistently engage with government authorities to raise awareness of the important role that EHRDs play in promoting sustainable development, protecting the environment and preserving biodiversity, and the need to protect them. Publicly recognize and promote, on a regular basis, the positive contribution of EHRDs to sustainable development, environmental protection, peace and stability, and the enjoyment of human rights, including
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layersDaily Sustainability Digest

Published about 10 hours ago



Sustainable construction is entering a results-driven phase defined by measurable performance rather than ambition. The UK’s £50 million investment in critical minerals strengthens the foundation for low carbon design and net zero carbon buildings, recognising that whole life carbon and embodied carbon in materials must be tracked from extraction to end-of-life reuse in construction. This alignment of industrial policy with environmental sustainability in construction reflects an emerging framework for whole life carbon assessment and lifecycle assessment within both infrastructure and residential building sectors.

Smart energy autonomy is accelerating the transition to energy-efficient buildings. Compact domestic battery systems and renewable energy integration demonstrate the expanding circular economy in construction, where resource efficiency and sustainable building practices are reshaping how homes are valued and retrofitted. Scotland’s rapid adoption of heat pumps and solar systems suggests growing confidence in sustainable building design, yet public perception of low carbon construction materials and life cycle cost remains a barrier to wider uptake.

AI-assisted planning systems within local authorities mark a critical step in digital transformation. By tackling administrative delays, these tools support sustainable urban development grounded in eco-design for buildings and verifiable environmental product declarations (EPDs). Parallel investment in green skills, including a £1 million apprenticeship initiative from Royal Mail, signals overdue recognition of the labour force’s role in achieving net zero whole life carbon performance.

The sector’s focus is shifting toward circular construction strategies, sustainable material specification, and quantifiable reductions in the carbon footprint of construction. Green construction now depends less on aspirational branding and more on comprehensive life cycle thinking in construction, where building lifecycle performance becomes the measure of success. With BREEAM and the upcoming BREEAM v7 reinforcing these standards, sustainable design is no longer optional but central to carbon neutral construction and genuine decarbonising of the built environment.

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