Work under the Human Rights Council covers areas such as the work undertaken by the Special Rapporteurs on: (a) the implications for human rights of the environmentally sound management and disposal of hazardous substances and wastes;(b) human rights and the environment; as well as (c) the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression; The latter being also based on free access to information. Possibilities to align the Council’s activities to the successful achievement of the SDGs were discussed e.g. in side-events to the meetings of the council and an exchange of experience between human rights and environmental experts can be beneficial in specific areas. For instance, in the Council, experience with the private sector and its obligations to provide access to information seems somewhat limited while often of relevance, while the human rights dimension may add additional weight when searching for support for the protection of the environment and human health.
