46th session of the UN Human Rights Council
Interactive dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on the issue of human rights obligations relating to the enjoyment of a safe, clean, healthy and sustainable environment
A Nordic-Baltic Intervention by the Permanent Mission of Finland
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3 March 2021
Madam President,
I have the honor to deliver this statement on behalf of the Nordic-Baltic countries: Denmark, Estonia, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, Sweden and my own country Finland.
We thank the Special Rapporteur for his report , and for his tireless efforts to realize the right to water and sanitation as a human right.
Climate change brings with it more floods and severe droughts. Changes in water availability will also impact human health, water and food security. There is also a clear link between climate change and security, with increased scarcity of resources being a key driver of conflict. The effects of climate change will be felt most acutely by groups already in vulnerable situations including women and girls, persons with disabilities, and indigenous peoples.
We need to intensify our efforts to ensure that climate change does not act as a threat multiplier and avoid that climate change and environmental degradation exacerbates existing inequalities and discrimination. Better global water governance and the inclusion of vulnerable groups in planning policies at all levels is needed.
Thank you.