Prof Morgera advises the European Parliament on Biodiversity as a Human Right

February 2020: Hub Director Prof Elisa Morgera has been invited to prepare an in-depth analysis on the linkages between biodiversity and human rights to inform the work of the European Parliament on how the European Union can best contribute – in international processes and in in its bilateral relations with other countries – to a human rights-based approach to stop biodiversity loss and degradation, including with a view to contributing to climate change adaptation and mitigation.

The report will be presented by Prof Morgera to the European Parliament on 17th February 2020. The report includes recommendations on how the EU should address biodiversity as a human right in the negotiations of a post-2020 global biodiversity framework, the UN negotiations on a new instrument on marine biodiversity of areas beyond national jurisdiction, and the Paris Agreement on climate change, among others. The report also identifies areas for improvement in the EU’s bilateral trade agreements with other countries and in its development funding.

Policy-relevant research

This consultancy was awarded to SCELG in recognition of its ongoing research at the intersection of human rights and biodiversity law, including the BENELEX project, MARINE BENEFITS and the One Ocean Hub. The award also follows on from Prof Morgera’s contribution to the mandate of the UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights and the Environment and her role in Scotland’s National Task Force on Human Rights Leadership.