"Climate Crisis = Inequality Crisis": 3.4 Billion People Facing Triple Threat, 95 Million Facing Quintuple Threat — A Current View of the Earth from a Rights Perspective

"Environment" is not a "background" but a "right"—The reality that 99% of the world's population is at risk of violation

Almost everyone on Earth—more than 7.7 billion, not 770 million—is threatened in at least one of the "environmental human rights" related to the foundations of life: air, water, climate, food, and biodiversity. The latest global analysis published by a research team at the University of Colorado Boulder highlights with numbers that what we consider "normal" in our lives is actually within the scope of law and policy—namely, human rights [Phys.org report, November 10, 2025]. The study was published in the peer-reviewed journal Environmental Research Communications on September 25, sparking international debate just before COP30 (opening November 10 in Brazil) [Phys.org].

What was revealed: Five "environmental rights" benchmarks

The study evaluates large-scale data from various regions based on five areas defined by the United Nations—① clean air, ② safe water, ③ safe climate, ④ healthy and sustainably produced food, and ⑤ healthy ecosystems and biodiversity. The results are shocking.

• Over 99% of the world's population faces the risk of rights violations in at least one area.

• 45% (approximately 3.4 billion people) are threatened in three or more areas,

• 1.25% (about 95 million people) face simultaneous threats to all five rights.
  The most common threat is air pollution (such as PM concentrations exceeding WHO standards), followed by access to healthy and sustainable food [Phys.org].

Hotspots and "Transboundary Pollution"

The impact is not uniform.South Asia, despite accounting for only about 20% of the world's population, emerged as a hotspot containing 41% of people facing "all five threats" [Phys.org].

Furthermore, the study cites specific examples where activities in wealthy countries violate the rights of other regions. U.S.-origin air pollution is linked to approximately 12,000 deaths annually in India and about 38,000 in China, while emissions from the EU27 have increased the likelihood of extreme weather in Southeast Africa and the Amazon by 1.8 times—demonstrating cross-border impacts [Phys.org].

Notably, the "right to a healthy environment" was first explicitly recognized as a human right by the United Nations in 2022, but it currently lacks legal binding force. This "gap" is the backdrop of the injustice highlighted by the numbers [Phys.org].

Why frame it as a rights issue now?

The perspective that the climate crisis is as much an issue of inequality and governance as it is a physical phenomenon has been gaining traction recently. Scientists and media are increasingly focusing on "climate justice," bringing wealth disparity, supply chains, and historical emissions responsibility to the forefront of discussions [as illustrated in a reference article. The Guardian]. This study is valuable in that it visualizes this as a quantitative map and concretizes policy targets. The paper's metadata and abstract are also publicly available, ensuring high transparency of the research [Astrophysics Data System].

Voices from the field: Organizing social media reactions into three trends

After the announcement, discussions spread from university and media posts. Overall trends can be broadly categorized into three types.

1. Support and dissemination: Endorsements such as "The human rights lens advances the discussion" and "Make it a priority agenda at COP30" spread via the university's official LinkedIn, X, and Threads [LinkedIn].

2. Methodological and "99%" skepticism: Technical questions about the validity of threshold settings and data series were raised. In climate communities on Facebook, there were exchanges about **"the application of universal human rights and regional contextual differences"** based on article citations [Facebook].

3. First-hand experiences: Users from South Asia and Africa posted about experiencing heatwaves, water stress, and rising food prices daily. Some voiced that "the numbers are merely delayed news" [as seen in posts from public groups. Facebook]. (Note: Individual social media posts may contain misinformation or unverified information, so the above is treated as a summary of trends)

Policy "Clues": Due Diligence and Transboundary Responsibility

As a solution, the research team suggests the corporate human rights due diligence laws (in countries like the Netherlands, France, and Germany) and recommends institutionalizing the compliance with environmental human rights in global supply chains across countries [Phys.org]. In the primary release from EurekAlert, it was emphasized that visualizing the simultaneous violation of five areas serves as "evidence" for decision-making in litigation, policy, and investment [EurekAlert!].

For Japanese readers: Three practical checklists

• Air (PM2.5 and Ozone): Continuously audit the gap between actual measurements in cities and business sites and WHO standards. The rise in ozone levels during summer is often overlooked but has significant health impacts [suggestive example from Colorado. Phys.org].

• Water and Heat: Develop Water Stewardship (in accordance with WRI/Alliance for Water Stewardship) and Heat Action Plans, including **worker safety (WBGT)**.

• Supply Chain: Gradually introduce traceability, including deforestation and biodiversity impacts. Prepare reporting in line with EU regulations and various national DD laws, integrated with finance through double materiality (covering both human rights and natural capital).

Summary:

"Environment" is not merely a "background condition" but a right to be exercised and a duty to be protected. The figure of 99% is not an exaggeration. In fact, considering unmeasured risks such as plastic toxicity and chemical substances from mining, there is even a possibility of underestimation—the research team points out [Phys.org].

Not only in the COP30 forum but also in the decision-making arenas of municipalities, companies, and individuals, how to translate into rights-based actions is now being questioned.