The 4th Summit of Heads of State and Government, held in Reykjavík on 16-17 May 2023, adopted the Reykjavík Declaration including the Appendix V on "The Council of Europe and the environment", and underlined “the urgency of additional efforts to protect the environment, as well as to counter the impact of the triple planetary crisis of pollution, climate change and loss of biodiversity on human rights, democracy and the rule of law”, while committing the Council of Europe to strengthening its work “on the human rights aspects of the environment and initiate the Reykjavík process of focusing and strengthening the work of the Council of Europe in this field”.

The Reykjavík process gathered steam in 2023 throughout the organisation, culminating in the creation of a Department on the Reykjavík process and the Environment in the Directorate General on Human Rights and Rule of Law on 1 January 2024, as well as an Inter-Secretariat Task Force on the Environment which will develop a Strategy and an Action Plan on the Council of Europe and the Environment.

The European Social Charter, the human rights treaty on social and economic rights, guarantees the right to protection of health which has been interpreted as including the right to a healthy environment  (Article 11). It entails firstly respect of the precautionary principle, i.e. when a preliminary scientific evaluation indicates that there are reasonable grounds for concern regarding potentially dangerous effects on human health, the State must take precautionary measures consistent with the high level of protection provided for in Article 11 of the Charter, to prevent those potentially dangerous effects.

Under the Charter overcoming pollution is an objective that can only be achieved gradually. Nevertheless, States Parties must strive to attain this objective within a reasonable time, by showing measurable progress and making best possible use of the resources at their disposal. The measures taken by States Parties are assessed with reference to their national legislation and regulations and undertakings entered into with regard to the European Union and the United Nations and in terms of how the relevant law is applied in practice.

In this respect, States Parties must:

  • develop and regularly update sufficiently comprehensive environmental legislation and regulations;
  • take specific steps, such as modifying equipment, introducing threshold values for emissions and measuring air quality, to prevent air pollution at local level and to help to reduce it on a global scale;
  • ensure that environmental standards and rules are properly applied, through appropriate supervisory machinery, effective and efficient, that is comprising measures which have been established to be sufficiently dissuasive and have a direct effect on polluting emission levels.

The European Committee of Social Rights (ESCR) monitors the implementation of the Charter, not only in law, but also in practice. Under Article 11, the ECSR examines for example aspects related to air and water pollution as well as risks related to asbestos or nuclear hazards.

The ECSR in its Conclusions 2025 notes that climate change has had an increasing impact on the safety and health of workers across all affected sectors, with a particular impact on workers from vulnerable groups such as migrant workers, women, older people, persons with disabilities, persons with pre-existing health conditions and youth. As noted by the United Nations Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, rapid environmental changes, caused by climate change, increase risks to working conditions and exacerbate existing ones (General comment No. 27 (2025) on economic, social and cultural rights and the environmental dimension of sustainable development, UN Doc E/C.12/GC/27, §51). Hazards related to climate change include, but are not limited to, excessive heat, ultraviolet radiation, extreme weather events (such as heatwaves), indoor and outdoor workplace pollution, vector-borne diseases and exposure to chemicals. These phenomena can have a serious effect on both the physical and mental health of workers. (Ensuring safety and health at work in a changing climate, Geneva: International Labour Office, 2024).

States should take measures to identify and assess climate change risks and adopt preventive and protective measures. These risks and impacts should be addressed through appropriate policies, regulations, and collective agreements. Particular attention should be paid to vulnerable workers, such as migrant workers, persons involved in informal work, young and older workers, women, persons with disabilities and persons with pre-existing health conditions. States must effectively monitor the application of standards addressing climate-related safety and health risks, including through appropriate supervisory mechanisms, and should undertake these efforts in close consultation with employers’ and workers’ organisations.

Risk assessment and prevention/protection plans should include measures aimed at mitigating the effects of climate change on the safety and physical and mental health of workers (for example, provision of personal protective equipment, appropriate clothing, sun protection, hydration, ventilation, as well as the introduction of reduced or flexible working hours and the provision of mental health support and other support services, where appropriate).

The Committee further stresses the importance of providing guidance and training to employers and workers, as well as implementing awareness-raising activities, collection of data and carrying out of research concerning the impact of climate change.

 

The Committee of Ministers adopted in 2022 a landmark Recommendation on human rights and the protection of the environment, calling on its member states to actively consider recognising, at national level, the right to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment, as a human right.

The Steering Committee for Human Rights (CDDH), which had elaborated the Recommendation adopted in 2024 a report on the need for and feasibility of a further instrument or instruments in this field, including a possible binding instrument. The Committee of Ministers is considering the various options for further normative work presented in this report.

In Recommendation 2245 (2023) “The Reykjavik Summit of the Council of Europe: United around values in the face of extraordinary challenges”, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, responding to pressing and widespread public demands for governments to tackle climate change and prioritise long-term environmental sustainability over immediate economic concerns, called on the Heads of State and Government of the Council of Europe to:

. take the lead, on behalf of the Council of Europe, in establishing environmental protection as a right while reiterating the commitment to reduce global greenhouse gas emissions to limit the global temperature increase, in line with the Paris Agreement;

. support the drafting of a legally binding Council of Europe framework to guarantee the right to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment, in line with Resolution 2396 (2022) “Anchoring the right to a healthy environment: need for enhanced action by the Council of Europe”;

. ask for the creation of a Council of Europe committee to act as a platform to share information, promote best practice, provide legal advice and develop tools for evaluating policies and legislation in the area of environmental protection and the fight against climate change.

 

The EU/CoE Roma Integration III JP contributes to mainstreaming Roma issues into the green transition and strengthening institutional capacities to ensure inclusive green policies. This is supported through a regional study on the inclusion of Roma in green transition and cooperation meetings with institutions. This helps integrate green transition measures into national Roma inclusion strategies and action plans.

 

By adopting Recommendation 2211 (2021) “Anchoring the right to a healthy environment: need for enhanced action by the Council of Europe”, the Parliamentary Assembly recommended, inter alia, that the Committee of Ministers (i) draw up an additional protocol to the European Convention on Human Rights on the right to a safe, clean, healthy and sustainable environment; and (ii) draw up an additional protocol to the European Social Charter on the right to a safe, clean, healthy and sustainable environment.

In February 2022, the CDDH published the 3rd edition of its Manual on Human Rights and the Environment, which examines how the European Convention on Human Rights and the European Social Charter, in particular, contribute to the strengthening of environmental protection at national level, through the evolving case law of the European Court of Human Rights and the conclusions and decisions of the European Committee on Social Rights. The Manual also includes examples of good national practices amongst member States in an appendix.

In October 2024, the Committee of Ministers has adopted a groundbreaking recommendation aimed at addressing the challenges arising from the climate crisis that young people face. The Recommendation CM/Rec(2024)6 on young people and climate action calls on governments to protect the civil, political, economic, social, and cultural rights of all young people, particularly environmental defenders, whose efforts to advocate for a sustainable environment often face significant barriers. It also emphasises the need to ensure meaningful youth participation in climate-related decision-making processes by establishing accessible consultation platforms and removing structural obstacles that limit young voices in shaping climate policies.

The Partnership between ERYICA and the CoE Youth Sector organised a Seminar on climate action and youth information ”Equipping Youth with Skills for Climate Action: Youth Engagement and Effective Information Sharing” on 11-13 November 2025 in Strasbourg (with a focus: youth -skills for climate action, effective information sharing, and implementing the new CoE Recommendation CM/Rec(2024)6 on young people and climate action. 

The Core Objectives were to:

  • Present and disseminate CM/Rec(2024)6 as a pioneering human-rights-based framework linking youth and climate action.
  • Strengthen ERYICA’s role in supporting youth information services to combat mis/disinformation.
  • Exchange and connect good practices in youth-led climate initiatives across Europe.

The European Youth Centres in Strasbourg and Budapest have also implemented a range of initiatives to ensure sustainable and green activities, such as Meatless Mondays in Budapest, the use of non-disposable cups and cutlery, the introduction of water fountains in the Centres, and providing bicycles to participants, to name a few.

The EU-Council of Europe Youth Partnership has been working on the topic of climate change and its impact on young people since 2017. It has developed and published several resources, including the T-kit on sustainability and youth work (2017), Greening the youth sector Sustainability checklist (2021) (including the animated video and podcast), analytical paper Disobedient youth: Lessons from the youth climate strike movement (2022), an issue of Coyote youth work magazine issue #35 on sustainability (2023), and videos What's up with the youth climate strike movement? and  Zero waste movement and young people. Youth Partnership has also conducted research on Sustainability and learning mobility (2020-2023) supporting the conference on this topic in 2023, under the European Platform for Learning Mobility (EPLM).

In September 2024, Youth Partnership organised a Symposium: Young people, democracy and climate action, where it has also launched several publications and research outputs, including the publication of the Youth Knowledge Book "Youth and democracy in the climate crisis", research paper on youth and climate litigation (2024), research paper on youth climate emotions and eco-anxiety (2024) and podcast Youth Action on Climate (2025).

In 2025, the European Youth Foundation provided funding and educational support to six national and international youth non-governmental organisations for their projects in Europe addressing the impact of the climate crisis and environmental degradation on young people and democracy.

The European Youth Foundation consistently fund projects that tackle the climate crisis and their effects on young people’s lives, as well as young people’s participation in climate policy processes at local, national and European level. Some EYF funded projects specifically promoted the CM/Rec(2024)6 on young people and climate action, and contributed to the specific SDG, such as the Youth and Environment Europe NGO and their project on “Understanding the triple planetary crisis through the lens of the Right to a Healthy Environment”, the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts (Europe Office) through their project “Building Blocks toward Youth Climate Action in Europe”. A particular contribution has been the project “Environmental consequences of the war – monitoring and overcoming” implemented by the NGO Cooperation and Development Network for Eastern Europe, with a focus on the war in Ukraine and it’s devastating consequences for the environment and climate.

 

The HELP course on The Environment and Human Rights the following modules:

  • Key concepts
  • The human rights-based approach to the environment protection
  • Green human rights in regional human rights systems
  • Human rights accountability for environmental harm done by business

The course has been produced closely linked with the update of the HELP course on Business and Human Rights, in cooperation with the Council of Europe Steering Committee for Human Rights (CDDH). Both courses are interlinked but can be taken separately. The Business and Human Rights course is being updated as part of the Human Rights and Environmentally Responsible Business Practices project to incorporate the latest developments in the European Court of Human Rights case law and international instruments, such as the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive.

 

Responding to a particular interest of the Steering Committee for Culture, Heritage and Landscape (CDCPP) on climate change impact on its domains of competence, a special thematic session on Climate change and sustainable development as it relates to culture, heritage and landscape was organised in 2019 and paved the way for the Recommendation CM/Rec(2022)15 of the Committee of Ministers to member States on the role of culture, cultural heritage and landscape in helping to address global challenges adopted by the Committee of Ministers on 20 May 2022. As described in its Methodology guidelines, the European Heritage Strategy for the 21st century approach is based on cross-sectoral cooperation of stakeholders in cultural heritage work to contribute to countering the growing climate change threats to cultural heritage. In 2027, the European Heritage Days will be organised around the theme of the “Heritage at Risk” and will contribute to the implementation of the SDG 13 by promoting resilience-building for heritage sites (13.1), raising public awareness and education on the impacts of climate change on cultural heritage (13.3), and fostering community-based conservation strategies that help integrate climate measures into cultural policy and planning (13.2).

The Council of Europe Landscape Convention (ETS No. 176) holistic and participatory approach to landscape protection, management, and planning creates synergies with the goals and targets of SDG 13. Through promoting healthy landscapes, fostering resilience, integrating climate policy, raising public awareness, and preserving natural and cultural heritage, the Convention helps nations and communities address both the causes and effects of climate change. In doing so, it supports the transition to climate-resilient societies and sustainable development, as envisioned in the UN 2030 Agenda.

Committee of Ministers’ Recommendation CM/Rec(2021)10 on town planning and landscape emphasises the need for member States to address climate change through landscape and town planning policies. It highlights the importance of integrating landscape concerns in tackling climate change, biodiversity loss, pollution, and soil degradation, and specifically recommends incorporating these considerations into environmental and planning policies at all levels. These measures directly support urgent climate action by embedding environmental sustainability and adaptation into the planning process, in accordance with the UN 2030 Agenda.

Committee of Ministers’ Recommendation CM/Rec(2021)11 on landscape and agriculture specifically mentions the "need to face up to the challenges resulting from climate change," and urges member States to adopt landscape-focused approaches as part of their agricultural and environmental strategies.

Committee of Ministers’ Recommendation CM/Rec(2022)15 on the role of culture, cultural heritage and landscape in helping to address global challenges emphasises that culture, heritage, and landscape are vital tools for advancing the fight against climate change. The Recommendation urges governments to integrate cultural and traditional knowledge into sustainable policies, promote behavioural changes, invest in energy-efficient heritage projects, and strengthen partnerships across sectors to foster resilience and adaptation to environmental challenges. Additionally, the recommendation highlights the power of cultural actors to drive collective action and public engagement for climate resilience. By promoting inclusive participation, education, and cooperation - locally and internationally - the Recommendation positions culture as central to changing mindsets and accelerating the climate action and sustainability goals established in Goal 13.

The Guiding principles for an integrated approach to culture, nature and landscape management - “L.I.N.K.E.D.”, elaborated by the Steering Committee for Culture, Heritage and Landscape (CDCPP) references the challenges of climate change in the Anthropocene, and the need for integrative strategies for mitigation, adaptation, and landscape management in the context of a changing climate.

The Florence Declaration adopted on 28 October 2025 on the occasion of the 25th Anniversary of the Council of Europe Landscape Convention does explicitly highlight the issue of climate change and the need for integrated strategies to mitigate its effects. It emphasises the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration, international cooperation, and the inclusion of climate change in cultural heritage conservation and management plans. Additionally, it calls for policy-makers and heritage professionals to recognise the relationship between cultural heritage and sustainable environmental practices.

 

The Convention on the Conservation of European Wildlife and Natural Habitats (Bern Convention,  ETS No. 104) has developed a large set of recommendations supporting and guiding action by its 50 Contracting Parties in embedding the consideration of biodiversity issues cross-sectorally and in developing a coherent national vision addressing both climate change adaptation and mitigating its inevitable impacts on nature. The Bern Convention has also adopted a Vision document for the period to 2030, which highlights its contribution to combatting climate change, as well as a Strategic Plan putting the Vision into practice together with a recommendation on its implementation.

The Bern Convention is focusing its efforts on the development of healthy ecosystems through the establishment of a pan-European network of areas of special conservation interest (Emerald Network).

In order to preserve natural heritage, the Bern Convention is supported by various initiatives, including the European Diploma for Protected Areas, a prestigious international award granted since 1965 by the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe. The Diploma recognises natural and semi-natural areas and landscapes of exceptional European importance for the preservation of biological, geological and landscape diversity and which are managed in an exemplary way. By doing so it contributes to combating climate change and its impacts. The Diploma was awarded to two new areas and further applications were received.

 

The EUR-OPA Major Hazards Agreement contributed to the Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction in Geneva, which was attended by over 3000 participants from a total of 164 countries, with further 600 joining online. The Platform, held under the overall theme “Every Day Counts, Act for Resilience Today”, true to the multi-stakeholder spirit of the Sendai Framework, was an important vehicle to address regional disaster risk challenges. The event focused on international cooperation, effective prevention, early warning systems, and resilient infrastructure. In particular, discussions centered around governance and strategies to protect lives from extreme weather events and ways to promote disability-inclusive disaster risk culture.

Under the FAO led Global Fire Management Hub, the EUR-OPA’s Global Fire Monitoring Center (GFMC) took the leading role to establish a working group on international interoperability.

 

Further to the Council of Europe Reykjavík Summit Declaration the Secretary General set up a Directorate of Social Rights, Health and Environment and a Department on the Reykjavík Process and Environment within, to make the environment a visible priority for the Organisation and promoting co-operation among member States.

An Inter-Secretariat Task Force on the Environment and carried out a review of environmental activities across the Organisation, as the basis for formulating proposals for elements of a Council of Europe Strategy on the Environment.

An intergovernmental committee, the Ad hoc Multidisciplinary Group on Environment (GME), was established in July 2024 to prepare a Council of Europe Strategy on the Environment and its accompanying Action Plan. On 14 May 2025, in Luxembourg, the Committee of Ministers adopted the Council of Europe Strategy for the Environment (2025–2030). The Strategy reflects the Council of Europe’s commitment to a forward-looking, holistic approach that aligns human rights, democracy, and the rule of law with environmental protection. Recognising that a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment is essential to the full enjoyment of human rights by present and future generations, it pursues five key objectives:

  1. Integrating human rights considerations into environment-related strategies, instruments, legislation, policies, and actions, and vice versa.
  2. Strengthening democratic governance in environmental matters.
  3. Supporting and protecting environmental human rights defenders, environmental defenders, and whistleblowers.
  4. Preventing and prosecuting environment-related crimes.
  5. Protecting wildlife, ecosystems, habitats, and landscapes.

The Strategy promotes the mainstreaming of sustainable development and environmental objectives across the Council of Europe’s work and operations. Its Action Plan sets out ongoing and planned activities to ensure effective implementation and, in line with the Council of Europe’s commitment to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, identifies the most relevant Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for each strategic objective.

At the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP30), held in Belém, Brazil, in November 2025, the Council of Europe, together with international organisations and civil society partners, co-organised side events to foster dialogue on the impact of climate change on fundamental rights. These events highlighted human rights-based approaches aimed at promoting equitable and inclusive climate policies.

  • The Council of Europe in partnership with the Council of Europe Development Bank (CEB) co-organised the side-event “Human Rights and climate change”, which explored how climate impacts affect fundamental rights – including the rights to life, energy, health, and housing – and showcased human rights-based approaches for equitable climate policies.
  • The Council of Europe co-organised with Youth and Environment Europe (YEE), the side-event “Human Rights and Climate Disinformation: Responding to Youth”. The event addressed climate disinformation as a human rights issue, promoting access to reliable environmental information, especially for youth, and exploring joint actions to safeguard information integrity and empower informed climate participation.
  • The Council of Europe in co-operation with the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), organised the side event “Environmental Human Rights Defenders” focusing on the ways to foster a safe and enabling environment for defenders and to integrate stronger protection standards into environmental governance. During the event, the 1st European Forum on Environmental Human Rights Defenders was launched, aiming to enhance coordination among civil society, governments, Indigenous Peoples, and international institutions. It will be held in June 2026 at the Council of Europe premises in Strasbourg.

The Council of Europe has made significant efforts to engage with and provide spaces for young people to address the climate crisis. For example, Compass: Manual on Human Rights Education with Young People includes a section on the environment and provides educational resources that can be used when working with young people during training. Meanwhile, to support efforts to put climate change and its impact on young people on the international political agenda, the Council of Europe’s Youth Department has undertaken various steps to promote ecologically neutral or positive projects to support initiatives aiming to “green” the youth sector. These include the Consultative meeting "The climate crisis, young people and democracy", the establishment of a task force on greening the youth sector by the Joint Council on Youth (CMJ), and resources such as the European Youth Foundation’s Guidelines towards Environmental Sustainability for projects (2014).

Work has started on a recommendation of the Committee of Ministers to member states on young people and climate action. The aim is to address the challenges faced by all young people, and in particular young environmental defenders, especially when advocating for a healthy, clean and sustainable environment, including the exercise, enjoyment and fulfilment of their fundamental civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights. Climate action is one of the top priorities of young people in Europe, however they are often excluded from decision-making processes, their demands remain unheard and ignored and they lack the necessary support and resources for their climate advocacy, and adequate social and legal protection.

The European Youth Centres in Strasbourg and Budapest have also implemented a range of initiatives to ensure sustainable and green activities, such as Meatless Mondays in Budapest, the use of non-disposable cups and cutlery, the introduction of water fountains in the Centres, and providing bicycles to participants, to name a few.

The EU-Council of Europe youth partnership has developed several resources, including the Sustainability Checklist for greening the youth sector (EN, FR), T-KIT on Sustainability and Youth Work and the analytical paper Disobedient youth : Lessons from the youth climate strike movement. A practical workshop “Sustainability in youth projects” organised in co-operation with the European Youth Foundation, as well as other research papers and resources.  Sustainability and climate change is also a priority area of the European Platform on Learning Mobility (EPLM).

IThe Partial Agreement on Youth Mobility through the Youth Card debated on the topic of the European Youth Card as a tool to reinforce sustainable youth mobility, during a side event of the Ministerial Conference on Youth in Malta, 8-10 October 2025. 36 participants – policy-makers, youth activists, EYCA members and representatives of international bodies reflected on the following questions: Is youth mobility politically relevant in your country and wider (now and in the future)? If yes, what implications could it have on the development of youth policy in your country? How, in your opinion, can the European Youth Card contribute to youth mobility on a national and European level? Tips for the steps forward for the PA on Youth Mobility through the youth card? Participants offered some suggestions in order to continue adapting the Partial Agreement’s work programme to the needs of youth card’s beneficiaries and to the member States.

The Partial Agreement on Youth Mobility through the Youth Card debated on the topic of the European Youth Card as a tool to reinforce sustainable youth mobility, during a side event of the Ministerial Conference on Youth in Malta, 8-10 October 2025. 36 participants – policy-makers, youth activists, EYCA members and representatives of international bodies reflected on the following questions: Is youth mobility politically relevant in your country and wider (now and in the future)? If yes, what implications could it have on the development of youth policy in your country? How, in your opinion, can the European Youth Card contribute to youth mobility on a national and European level? Tips for the steps forward for the PA on Youth Mobility through the youth card? Participants offered some suggestions in order to continue adapting the Partial Agreement’s work programme to the needs of youth card’s beneficiaries and to the member States. This followed an earlier seminar in 2023, which pondered similar topics and sought to create synergies between public sector, youth card organisations, youth NGOs, young people and companies to advance sustainability in youth mobility and to identify ways to use the card to provide young people with green and digital services in smart cities.

The Council of Europe Development Bank (CEB), in the framework of its unique social mandate, focuses on the people-planet-prosperity equation through a people-centred lens that considers how people are impacted by climate change and by the transition to a climate neutral and resilient future. The Bank systematically applies the vulnerability lens to its lending activities to enhance their social cohesion value.

The Strategic Framework 2023-2027 identifies three cross-cutting themes that interact with the CEB’s core sectors of activity and are instrumental to achieving progress on social cohesion: (i) Climate action; (ii) Gender equality and (iii) Digitalisation.

To address climate considerations, the CEB is committed to: (i) align its activities with the Paris Agreement, ensuring compatibility with the climate goals and improving the tracking of green and climate action finance; and (ii) apply the climate-social nexus approach to social investment to achieve greater impact.

The CEB supports the financing of climate change mitigation and adaptation projects and non-climate action projects which generate environmental benefits and aim at improving adaptation or enhancing resilience to climate-related risks.

 

The Parliamentary Assembly, via its Committee on Social Affairs, Health and Sustainable Development, has been a stakeholder in the international process on climate change through the UN Climate Change Conferences. It has promoted action in this area, for example through Resolution 1976 (2014) on "Climate change: a framework for a global agreement in 2015"; and Resolution 2210 (2018) on “Climate change and implementation of the Paris Agreement”. Resolution 2396 (2021) and Recommendation 2211 (2021) on “Anchoring the right to a healthy environment: need for enhanced action by the Council of Europe”, Resolution 2399 (2021) and Recommendation 2214 (2021) on “The climate crisis and the rule of law” were adopted by the Assembly in 2021 as part of an all-day debate during the September part-session. In January 2022, the Assembly adopted Resolution 2415 (2022) and Recommendation 2219 (2022) on “Inaction on climate change – a violation of children’s rights”. Since 27 January 2022, the Parliamentary Network for a healthy environment has been promoting policy and legislative measures for the member States’ action against climate change, pollution and the loss of biodiversity, and the mainstreaming of the right to a healthy environment at all levels of governance. In 2023, Resolution 2493 (2023) and Recommendation 2251 (2023) on “Political strategies to prevent, prepare for, and face the consequences of natural disasters” were adopted.

Resolution 2565 (2024) “Safeguarding human rights for future generations” called States to adopt an integrated approach that takes into consideration environmental concerns, along with economic, social and cultural development. It promoted intergenerational equity to be a guiding principle in any decision-making involving children and youth and the future generations.

Resolution 2546 (2024) and Recommendation 2273 (2024) “Towards Council of Europe strategies for healthy seas and oceans to counter the climate crisis” has highlighted the role of seas and oceans as complex ecosystems that are vital for sustaining biodiversity, underpinning the livelihood of humans, and regulating the global climate. They urged member States to “incorporate the seas and oceans dimension into their national policies to tackle the climate crisis, including policies related to mitigation, adaptation and resilience”.

In its Resolution 2545 (2024) and Recommendation 2272 (2024) on "Mainstreaming the human right to a safe, clean, healthy and sustainable environment with the Reykjavik process", the Assembly highlighted the urgent need to formalise the right to a healthy environment within the Council of Europe with a legally binding legal instrument. It also stressed the singularity of the right to a healthy environment, which transcends individual rights and encompasses present and future generations, calling for a responsible, forward-looking strategy.

Resolution 2577 (2024) and Recommendation 2286 (2024) on “Guaranteeing the human right to food” have stressed the impact of climate change and geopolitical tensions on access to healthy, adequate and sustainable food and put forward a series of measures aimed at building resilient food systems.

Report “Analysis and guidelines for a sustainable and socially fair energy transition”,  is currently in preparation by the Committee on Social Affairs, Health and Sustainable Development.

Resolution 2611 (2025) on “Analysis and guidelines for a sustainable and socially fair energy transition”, highlights the role of clean, safe and affordable energy in addressing the triple planetary crisis of pollution, climate change and biodiversity loss. It also urges investment in long-term energy security through abundant and free-of-charge local resources which would benefit society at large in terms of better public health, improved well-being and reduced pollution. Resolution 2626 (2025) on “Analysis and guidelines to guarantee the right to housing” also urges action to mainstream energy-efficient, climate-resilient and low-carbon housing models, while investing in sustainable public infrastructure and spatial planning that integrate environmental, economic and social objectives.

On 3 October 2019, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe adopted Resolution 2307 (2019) on A legal status for “climate refugees”. The report underlined that an estimated 200 million people would be displaced globally by 2050 because of climate change, and that the human mobility and displacement due to this degradation needed to be better anticipated. The interaction between climate change and conflict and violence should also be further assessed, and states must take “a more proactive approach to the protection of victims of natural and man-made disasters”, improving disaster preparedness mechanisms both in Europe and in other regions. Parliamentarians called for specific measures at local, national and international levels, to raise the resilience threshold of local communities, improve national disaster responses and management capacity, and to enhance legal protection of refugees in the context of environmental migration. Disaster risk reduction should be integrated into sustainable development and management policies. International legal provisions, such as those contained in the 2009 African Union Convention for the Protection and Assistance of Internally Displaced Persons in Africa (Kampala Convention) could serve examples in relation to the obligation to protect persons displaced for environmental reasons. 

PACE initiative #EnvironmentRightNow to anchor the right to a safe, clean, healthy and sustainable environment was launched during the Assembly’s 4th part-session of 2021 and led to the adoption of seven resolutions and five recommendations on the environment and climate change, including Resolution 2401 (2021) on Climate and migration. In this text, the Assembly called for strengthening human rights protection for those affected by climate-change-induced migration in Europe and beyond, acting on the following pillars: ensuring human rights protection for people who are forced to migrate by climate-change-induced disasters or hardship; using science and technology to serve people and save lives; improving development co-operation and emergency support in the countries of origin of migrants; and preventing environment degradation that multiply the effects of climate change. The rapporteur, Mr Pierre-Alain Fridez, also did a podcast on this issue.

To provide further support to UN-led initiatives in the field of migration, the Parliamentary Assembly adopted in 2021 the following texts: Resolution 2379 (2021) on the “Role of parliaments in implementing the United Nations global compacts for migrants and refugees” and Resolution 2408 (2021) on the “70th anniversary of the 1951 Refugee Convention: the Council of Europe and the international protection of refugees”.

Assembly Resolution 2397 (2021) “More participatory democracy to tackle climate change” aims at enhancing the active involvement of citizens in, and thus a greater support for, public action to address the climate challenge. (SDGs 13 and 16.7)

Resolution 2402 (2021) Research policies and environment protection calls on Council of Europe member States to review their research, innovation and development policies, in order to give the highest priority to the green economy, so as to bring economic development into line with the goal of achieving carbon neutrality by 2050. In this context, the Assembly calls on member States to develop specific research programmes on renewable energies and on the circular economy.

Resolution 2549 (2024) and Recommendation 2277 (2024) on “Cultural heritage and climate change” recommend including cultural heritage preservation in national, regional and local strategies designed to address climate change, and in particular the use of traditional adaptation and mitigation strategies inherent to cultural heritage. In the framework of the European Green Deal, the Assembly invites the European Commission to build synergies with the Council of Europe, UNESCO and international heritage organisations to develop coordination and guidelines for assessing the impact of climate change on different categories of tangible and intangible cultural heritage.

In its Resolution 2398 (2021) and Recommendation 2213 (2021) on “Addressing issues of criminal and civil liability in the context of climate change”, based on a report of the Committee on Legal Affairs and Human Rights, the Assembly also pointed that two Council of Europe treaties aimed at strengthening environmental protection – the 1998 Convention on the Protection of the Environment through Criminal Law (ETS No. 172) and the 1993 Convention on Civil Liability for Damage Resulting from Activities Dangerous to the Environment (ETS No. 150) – had not attracted the number of ratifications necessary to enter into force. It therefore called on member States to reflect on whether there was a need to revise or replace these treaties (in particular Convention No. 172) in order to adapt them to the current challenges related to climate change. It also stressed the need to provide access to judicial remedies, both to prevent and compensate for damages caused by climate change.

The 2021 European Conference of Presidents of Parliament took place in Athens on 21-22 October 2021 and brought together some 60 Presidents and Vice-Presidents of parliament from the 46 Council of Europe member states, as well as of countries enjoying the status of observer or partner for democracy, and heads of several international parliamentary assemblies. The conference addressed three main themes, including that of '#EnvironmentRightNow': national parliaments and the right to a healthy and sustainable environment, underlining for each of them the specific role and responsibilities of parliaments. The conclusions of the conference are available on its website.

The achievement of the SDGs is a responsibility shared by all levels of governance - international, national, local and regional. Thanks to its expertise and proximity to the citizens, the Congress of the Council of Europe carries the territorial dimension of the SDGs. The Congress's work focuses on 12 of the 17 objectives defined in the United Nations Agenda 2030.»

For the last two decades, the Congress has been working on the different aspects related to the quality of the environment, the impact of climate change on citizen’s lives and energy transition.

The basic premise of Congress action is that local and regional authorities are required to adopt strategies to respond to environmental challenges and adapt their communities accordingly. This approach is carried out through the improvement of education, awareness and human and institutional capacities, as well as progress in fields such as transport, recycling, water and waste management, production and consumption of local products and tourism.

The approach of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities is based on three key principles: achieving SDGs is the shared responsibility of all levels of government; local and regional authorities must have the necessary competences and financial autonomy to achieve the goals in their respective areas; citizens must always remain at the heart of the action.

For the last two decades, the Congress has been working on the different aspects related to the quality of the environment, the impact of climate change on citizen’s lives and energy transition. This is one of Congress’ priorities as declared by the Congress President during the World Environment Day. The basic premise of Congress action – also shared by the Council of Europe Secretary General – is that local and regional authorities are required to adopt strategies to respond to environmental challenges and adapt their communities accordingly. This approach is carried out through the improvement of education, awareness and human and institutional capacities, as well as progress in fields such as transport, recycling, water and waste management, production and consumption of local products and tourism.

In recent years, the Congress has adopted the following texts in relation to SDG 13:

  • RES 500(2024) and REC 510(2024) - Local and regional responses to natural disasters and climate hazards: from risk preparedness to resilience

Environmental issues have been examined by the European Court of Human Rights in a large number of cases which have led to significant reforms in European states in order to safeguard and protect one’s living environment, including against the serious adverse effects of climate change on life, health, well-being and quality of life (see Thematic Factsheet on Environment and Climate Change).

Environmental degradation, pollution, and climate change directly undermine health, dignity, participation, and equality. The Commissioner for Human Rights has identified the triple planetary crisis as among the major global challenges of today and has framed environmental protection and climate action as integral to human rights protection, urging member states to adopt rights-based approaches to environmental and climate policy. Particular attention has been paid to environmental risks disproportionately affecting Roma communities. The Commissioner and his predecessors have also called for the protection of environmental defenders and civil society working in these fields.  

See the Commissioner’s thematic webpages on the environment and human rights for further details and resources, including reports, recommendations and statements, from the current and previous Commissioners.

 

 

This page reflects recent and ongoing developments in the activities of the Council of Europe towards the Sustainable Development Goals. The Council’s historical activities in this area have been archived.