Event Conference
Greenwashing and False Solutions Are Toxic for Human Rights | Geneva Toxic Free Talks
20 Sep 2023
09:00–10:00
Venue: Palais des Nations, Room H.307-1 & Online | Webex
Organization: Special Procedures of the UN Human Rights Council, Earthjustice, Geneva Environment Network
On the sidelines of 54th Session of the Human Rights Council (HRC54), this year’s Toxic Free Talks will take place from 20 to 22 September — three days of conferences and discussions, highlighting the work of the UN Special Rapporteur on toxics and human rights, and of organizations in the struggle for the right to live in a toxic-free environment. This session launched the 2023 edition of the Geneva Toxic Free Talks.
About this Session
In the words of the UN Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, the Earth today faces a triple planetary crisis of climate disruption, nature and biodiversity loss, pollution and waste. We need all hands on deck. In response, we have seen an increase in efforts and actions from different sectors of society that aim to address these.
At the same time however, more and more practices involving toxic substances are presented as offering solutions to environmental crises, while at the same time reducing or overlooking their negative impacts on humans and their environment.
This session, taking place on the sidelines of the 54th session of the Human Rights Council, aimed at understanding how greenwashing and false solutions that misuse such substances undermine human rights. Launching the 2023 edition of the Geneva Toxic Free Talks, this session also showed how a human rights-based approach can help avoid such pitfalls.
About the Geneva Toxic Free Talks
The Special Rapporteur on toxics and human rights reports every fall to the Council and to the UN General Assembly on issues related to his mandate. The Geneva Toxic Free Talks aim to harness the opportunity of this moment of the year to reflect on the challenges posed by the production, use, and dissemination of toxics and on how Geneva contributes to bringing together the actors working in reversing the toxic tide.
On the sidelines of HRC54, this year’s Toxic Free Talks will take place from 20 to 22 September — three days of conferences and discussions, highlighting the work of the Special Rapporteur and of organizations in the struggle for the right to live in a toxic-free environment.
Speakers
Marcos ORELLANA
UN Special Rapporteur on toxics and human rights
Jerzy JENDROSKA
Vice Chair of the Aarhus Convention Compliance Committee | Professor of European Law at Opole University (Poland) and of Environmental Law at Riga Graduate School of Law (Latvia)
Yuyun ISMAWATI
Senior Advisor and Co-Founder, Nexus for Health, Environment and Development Foundation (Nexus3) | IPEN Steering Committee Member
Clemente BAUTISTA
International Network Officer, Kalikasan People's Network for the Environment & Asia Pacific Network of Environment Defenders
Lisa TOSTADO
Agrochemicals and Fossil Fuels Campaigner, Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL)
Yves LADOR
Representative of Earthjustice to the United Nations in Geneva | Moderator
Highlights
Video
Live from Youtube
Live in the room.
Photo Gallery
