2025/11/12 by Bethanie Carney Almroth, Rob Ralston, Joachim Peter Tilsted +4 · 2 voices
Social Sciences · Environmental Science · #Environmental law and policy #International Environmental Law and Policies #Human Rights and Development
paper · pdf · doi:10.1080/13642987.2025.2584007
openalex publication_date 2025/11/12 · openalex created_date 2025/11/12 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/26
Scientific evidence supports dominant institutional understandings of the global socio-ecological crises of the triple planetary crisis-climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution-demonstrating the profound impacts of human activities on Earth systems. Pollution is intimately tied to these crises, through extractivism and production of chemicals, including plastics and poses serious threats to the environment and human rights. While science is often invoked in multilateral environmental for addressing chemicals, plastics, waste and pollution, some critically important dilemmas, conflicts of interest and power imbalances arise. In this context, the Right to Science, the right of all people to benefit from scientific progress and its applications, offers a powerful yet underutilised tool. Recognised in Article 15(1)(b) of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, this right reinforces the importance of evidence-based decision-making. However, it is increasingly undermined by vested interests deploying strategies of denial, delay, manufactured ignorance and misinformation. Upholding this right requires concrete measures: public funding for science and education, academic freedom, data transparency, meaningful participation of diverse knowledge holders and mechanisms to address conflicts of interest. Embedding a rights-based approach into Multilateral Environmental Agreements can help ensure science serves the public interest in addressing the pollution crisis.