IMPLEMENTING THE RIGHT TO A HEALTHY ENVIRONMENT UNDER THE CANADIAN ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION ACT

Following the United Nations’ recognition of the human right to a healthy environment in 2022, Canada included the right to a healthy environment (RTHE) in the reformed Canadian Environmental Protection Act as a guiding principle for decision-making under the Act. The right is currently defined as “the right to clean, healthy and sustainable environment”, but its scope, definition and application will be expanded on in the government’s Implementation Framework (to be released in June 2025). Recognizing that the health of one’s environment is dependent on physiological, socio-environmental and structural factors, WHEN is advocating for the federal government to take an intersectional approach when developing the Implementation Framework.”

Learn more: 

• WHEN’s submission to the federal government’s RTHE Implementation Framework Team regarding their Discussion Document (intended to inform the development of the Implementation Framework) 

• Shake Up The Establishment’s submission to the federal government’s RTHE Implementation Framework Team regarding their Discussion Document 

• The Right to a Healthy Environment: what does it mean?

• The Right to a Healthy Environment: get informed, get involved, have your say