A/75/298 advancing the use of cultural rights and cultural initiatives to combat it. 31 Their work often intersects with the work of indigenous human rights defenders and environmental human rights defenders. 32 It is dangerous and difficult. 33 Environmental human rights defenders are among those most at risk,” 34 so at risk that they were the subject of Human Rights Council resolution 40/11. In that resolution, the Council strongly condemned reprisals and violence against these defenders, including by non-State actors. As one of the best-known examples among many, in Honduras, Berta Cáceres was murdered in 2016 for her role in protesting against the construction of a dam that threatened sacred Lenca land, in an effort to protect both the land and culture of her people. 35 “Increasing the attention and assistance given to cultural rights defenders would increase the realization of the potential of culture and heritage to drive climate action. This in turn would enhance the valorization of the work of cultural rights defenders.” 36 20. Both the protection of human rights, including cultural rights, and of the environment are “indispensable for sustainable development. Each human being depends on ecosystems and the services they provide, such as food, water, disease management, climate regulation, spiritual fulfilment and aesthetic enjoyment. At the same time, all human activities have an impact on the environment.” 37 21. However, many environmental policies do not address culture, 38 while many cultural policies do not refer to the environment. Both sets of policies may fail to incorporate a human rights approach. Submissions also identified a lack of relevant laws that cover this nexus. 39 What is needed is a tripartite integration of environmental, cultural and human rights perspectives on climate change, in policy and expertise, at the international, regional, national and local levels, and the creation of channels of communication and institutionalized cooperation between policymakers, officials, government agencies, international organizations, experts and civil society groups in all three areas. These conversations have begun in some places but “climate change and culture” is only beginning to be recognized as a specific field. 40 It is already a step forward to bring two of these categories together, 41 but essential to combine them with human rights. Only this synthesis can give us the holistic approach essential for responding to the climate emergency, the most significant threat on the human horizon today. 22. In preparation for writing the report, the Special Rapporteur participated in person in the “Climate heritage mobilization” held during the Global Climate Action Summit, held in San Francisco in 2018, and by video in the launch of the Climate __________________ 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 20-10595 See A/HRC/43/50. Ibid., para. 43. See A/71/281. Front Line Defenders stated in its annual report that 304 human rights defenders were killed in 2019, of whom 40 per cent worked on land, indigenous rights and environmental issues (Front Line Defenders, “Global Analysis 2019” (January 2020). Available at www.frontlinedefenders.org/sites/default/files/global_analysis_2019_web.pdf ). United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), “Promoting greater protection for environmental defenders”, policy paper (2018), pp. 1 and 2. JUA HND 2/2016. See contribution by International Council on Monuments and Sites. Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) and UNEP, “Human rights and the environment: Rio+20: joint report OHCHR and UNEP” (2012), background document for OHCHR-UNEP joint side event on “human rights at the centre of sustainable development – honouring Rio Principle 1”, at the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development, Rio de Janeiro, 2012, p. 6. See, e.g., contributions by: the Commissioner for Human Rights of Poland; Portugal; and Ukraine. See, e.g., contributions by Portugal and Ukraine. See contribution by Greece. See contribution by Julie’s Bicycle. 7/23