• The UN Human Rights Commission has released a statement calling for all critical mineral projects to respect human rights
• The ACT has included a right to a healthy environment in its Human Rights Act. Public authorities will be required to comply with the new right immediately, but a moratorium on legal challenges to decisions that fail to comply will apply until 1 October 2028
• The ANAO is reviewing the Federal government’s Measuring What Matters framework, which seeks to track progress on health, sustainability and social justice goals beyond economic measures.
• A Senate Committee reviewing the Climate Change Duty of Care Bill has recommended against passing the Bill (Greens and Senator David Pocock dissented, arguing that the Bill was needed). See the Duty of Care campaign for information about next steps. 
• A joint parliamentary committee has recommended the government progress a national Human Rights Act, to consult with First Nations peoples on protecting rights to culture and self-determination, and to consider explicit rights of children and a right to a healthy environment
• The outgoing UN Special Rapporteur on the Environment and Human Rights said that the “failure to take a human rights based approach to the climate crisis… has been the achilles heel to climate action.”
• The Mission Australia 2023 Youth Survey confirmed that the environment (and specifically climate change) is a major concern for young Australians
• The Queensland Land Court recommended rejection of a mining lease for Waratah Coal on the basis that the emissions would compromise the human rights of the young applicants (Youth Verdict)
• UN Report confirmed climate change threatens the rights of children
• Traditional owners of the site of the Adani mine launched legal action claiming the company is breaching their human rights by failing to prevent contamination of wetlands
• The government has appointed a Youth Steering Committee and a range of specific Youth Advisory Groups (including one on Climate Change) and is developing a Youth Engagement Strategy

• 24 November 2024 – submissions due on the ANAO Review of Measuring What Matters
• Throughout 2024 – consultation on new national laws, including reforms to recognise intergenerational equity (see EPBC Reforms)

• Updating members on policy progress and campaigns on relevant issues
• Hosting a webinar with Anjali Sharma updating members on the Duty of Care campaign
• Promoting youth and First Nations membership on relevant advisory committees and as speakers at events
• Working with eNGOs to promote First Nations groups and caring for country initiatives as leaders in intergenerational thinking and custodianship

• Sign the petition in support of the Duty of Care Bill
• Watch our webinar with Anjali Sharma and Hannah Vardy
• Use the Nature Funding Framework (Lever 2 – Legal) to inform funding decisions
• Watch and share “Journey for Justice“
• Mentor youth and First Nations members within eNGOs, and encourage involvement on boards and committees
  
  Current Clearinghouse projects:
  • No current project for this topic

• A Healthy Environment is a Human Right (EDO)
• Children Have a Right to a Healthy Environment (ACF)
• UN Resolution on the Right to a Clean and Healthy Environment
• Overview of Sharma v Minister for the Environment (EnvLaw)
• Overview of Waratah Coal v Youth Verdict (EnvLaw)
• “Rights-Based Environmental Advocacy – Coming to a Court Near You” (Hon Fleur Kingham, President Queensland Land Court – speech to QELA conference 2019)
• “A Call of Duty” – Australian Story on Anjali Sharma and her Duty of Care campaign (ABC iview)
• Journey For Justice: Taking climate change to the world’s highest court | A Greenpeace Documentary

Organisations working on this issue 

Useful government contacts