By Abbas Nazil
The Council of Europe has reaffirmed its commitment to linking environmental protection with human rights and democracy at the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP30) in Belém, Brazil.
Speaking at the event, the Council of Europe Secretary General, Alain Berset, emphasized that the environment forms the basis of people’s rights and freedoms, urging global leaders, civil society, and young people to unite for climate action.
“Our environment is the foundation of our rights and freedoms,” Berset said.
He added that defending the planet means defending shared human values and the future of humanity.
The Council of Europe is organizing three side events at COP30 to highlight how human rights, democracy, and environmental sustainability are interconnected.
The first, titled *Human Rights and Climate Change*, focuses on how climate impacts fundamental rights such as life, health, housing, and energy, while presenting rights-based strategies for equitable climate policies.
Another event, *Environmental Human Rights Defenders*, will promote protection for activists and introduce the new European Forum for environmental defenders, encouraging collaboration between civil society, indigenous groups, and international institutions.
A third session, Human Rights and Climate Disinformation: Responding to Youth, will tackle misinformation around climate issues and promote access to credible information as part of the Secretary General’s New Democratic Pact for Europe initiative.
The Council of Europe has also strengthened its legal and policy frameworks for environmental protection.
It recently adopted a Convention on the Protection of the Environment through Criminal Law to combat environmental crimes, alongside a 2025–2030 environmental strategy integrating justice, democracy, and social cohesion.
Berset reiterated that the organization’s core conventions, including the Bern and Landscape Conventions, ensure biodiversity and cultural preservation remain central to human dignity and well-being.
The European Court of Human Rights has also delivered more than 300 environment-related judgments, applying fundamental rights such as life, property, and freedom of expression to environmental challenges.
The Council of Europe’s presence at COP30 underscores its message that safeguarding the planet is essential to preserving democracy, human dignity, and the rights of future generations.