HRC58 - NB8 statement - ID on the report of SR on the human right to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment

Human Rights Council - 58th Session

Item 3: Interactive Dialogue on the report of Special Rapporteur on the human right to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment

Statement by Iceland on behalf of the Nordic Baltic States

14 March 2025

Mr. President,

I have the honour to speak on behalf of the Nordic-Baltic countries. We thank the Special Rapporteur for an informative report and for underlining the critical importance of healthy oceans for safeguarding of human rights, including those of Indigenous Peoples.

Oceans are not only vital to global ecosystems but are also essential for the well-being of billions of people worldwide. The challenges we face - pollution, climate change, and loss of biodiversity - threaten the environment and human rights. They underline that only when we balance conservation and sustainable use, as outlined in SDG14, can we protect our oceans for sustainable development.

This means working based on the best scientific advice, taking into account Indigenous, ancestral, as well as local knowledge, to strengthen measures to prevent overexploitation, reduce marine pollution, and support industries that respect human rights and endorse sustainable practices. By promoting responsible fishing, marine protected areas and other effective measures, and circular blue economies, we can safeguard the oceans while ensuring access to vital resources for current and future generations.

Special Rapporteur, in your view, what more can we do to highlight and recognize the important role women play in the blue economy and for healthy oceans?

I thank you.