“The Constitution of Georgia singles out the right to the environment as a basic right, while in the constitutions of a number of leading countries, the right of life is used when discussing the right to the environment, so does the European Court of Human Rights,” said Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze at the 29th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP29) in Baku, Azerbaijan.

According to the PM, it is crucial to remain steadfast in the commitment to halve global greenhouse gas emissions by 2030.

“During Georgia’s presidency of the Council of Europe in 2019-2020, one of the four priorities was human rights and environmental protection. In the final declaration by the Presidency of the Committee of Ministers, the Council of Europe’s role as the guarantor of our common Pan-European legal framework was underscored, emphasizing its responsibility in integrating environmental dimensions into human rights initiatives and promoting a rights-based approach to environmental protection. This declaration laid the foundation for significant advancements in environmental protection within the Council of Europe.

The Constitution of Georgia singles out the right to the environment as a basic right, while in the constitutions of a number of leading countries, the right to life is used when discussing the right to the environment, and so does the European Court of Human Rights.

In response to these urgent challenges, it is crucial that we remain steadfast in our commitment to halve global greenhouse gas emissions by 2030. Achieving this goal is critical if we are to limit global warming to the 1.5 Degrees Celsius target set by the Paris Agreement,” he said.