WWF Annual Review 2021 - 41

LANDMARK PROGRESS ON HUMAN
RIGHTS AND ENVIRONMENT
Momentum grew in 2021, culminating in
the adoption of the human right to a healthy
environment (HR2HE) by the UN Human
Rights Council. While many countries recognize
the right to a healthy environment within their
constitutions or national legislation, the lack
of global recognition was a major gap in the
international human rights framework. Global
recognition will help clarify and reinforce
states' obligations, ensuring that every person
everywhere enjoys this right and benefitting
nature at the same time. We joined more than
1,300 organizations across 75 countries in
calling on states to recognize a healthy
environment as a universal human right -
including using our voice in a TweetStorm and
opinion piece. This show of public support,
together with the leadership of five countries
(Costa Rica, Maldives, Morocco, Slovenia and
Switzerland), resulted in a strong vote of
support at the Human Rights Council by
governments from around the world (63 for,
4 abstaining, 0 against). Advocacy efforts now
turn to the UN General Assembly to secure
full UN recognition of this right.
COMMUNITY LANDS
Almost a third of global land and inland
waters is owned or governed by Indigenous
Peoples and local communities, according to a
first-of-its-kind assessment that we coordinated
in collaboration with 15 organizations.
Their role in and contributions to global
conservation must be fully recognized.
ANTI-CORRUPTION
Our USAID-funded Targeting Natural Resources
Corruption programme to combat corruption in
the wildlife, timber and fisheries sectors expanded
into six new countries. Research, webinars and
briefings from the project have covered themes
including zoonotic diseases, illicit wildlife trade,
whistleblower protection and gender.
SUSTAINABLE INFRASTRUCTURE
A new grant from the Norwegian development
agency NORAD will help us promote sustainable
investment in and development of sustainable
infrastructure in China and three African
countries (Kenya, Madagascar and Tanzania).
The funding amounts to almost
US$5 million over five years.
WATCH GLOBAL GOVERNANCE
PRACTICE LEADER DELFIN GANAPIN
DISCUSS OUR GOVERNANCE
WORK IN 2021
Biodiversity assessment
in a community forest,
Cambodia.
41
© Shruti Suresh / WWF-Cambodia

https://wwfint.awsassets.panda.org/downloads/report_the_state_of_the_indigenous_peoples_and_local_communities_lands_and_territor.pdf https://nam12.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.worldwildlife.org%2Fpages%2Ftnrc-targeting-natural-resource-corruption&data=02%7C01%7CRachel.Kramer%40wwfus.org%7Cdf537244abc34968a02108d85af7226f%7Cdb6aaa89c7f8485186769cc7f73b3411%7C0%7C0%7C637359364786555900&sdata=AfdxMv5NsgmeYt8qzQ7EY7LZFYIbQhZODUVLOwsU5P8%3D&reserved=0 https://nam12.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.worldwildlife.org%2Fpages%2Ftnrc-targeting-natural-resource-corruption&data=02%7C01%7CRachel.Kramer%40wwfus.org%7Cdf537244abc34968a02108d85af7226f%7Cdb6aaa89c7f8485186769cc7f73b3411%7C0%7C0%7C637359364786555900&sdata=AfdxMv5NsgmeYt8qzQ7EY7LZFYIbQhZODUVLOwsU5P8%3D&reserved=0 https://youtu.be/fMiQD9yvPQc

WWF Annual Review 2021

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of WWF Annual Review 2021