A/71/304 19. The right to health encompasses the underlying determinants of health, including its social and psychosocial determinants. T he Sustainable Development Goals address many of these underlying determinants, from specific right -to-health entitlements found in the targets of Goal 3, such as road safety, harmful alcohol and tobacco use and environmental pollution, as well as other Go als and targets, including on clean water and sanitation (Goal 6), education (Goal 4), food (Goal 2), decent work (Goal 8), reducing inequalities (Goal 10), gender equality (Goal 5), poverty reduction (Goal 1), climate change and access to energy (Goal 13) , peace, justice and strong institutions (Goal 16) and violence (targets 5.2, 16.1 and 16.2). 20. For example, in addressing climate change and environmental pollution (Goal 13 and target 3.9), States and other actors must recognize the particular health impact that these environmental issues have on certain populations, due in part to socioeconomic inequality, cultural norms and intrinsic psychological factors. 7 Climate change increases the incidence of diseases that already disproportionately affect the poor, such as malaria and diarrhoea. Likewise, environmental pollution contributes to the growing burden of non-communicable diseases, disproportionately experienced by the poor. This increases health expenditures and ill mental and physical health among those who can least afford it, reinforcing the vicious cycle of poverty (A/HRC/32/23, para. 24). 21. Goal 3 will not be met without a robust commitment to addressing all underlying determinants of health or sustained investment in transparent and accountable health-care systems. C. Participation and access to information 22. The Sustainable Development Goals were born through a uniquely participatory process. They also include important commitments to parti cipation, including target 16.7, Ensure responsive, inclusive, participatory and representative decision-making at all levels, as well as other Goals and targets that are crucial to free, informed and meaningful participation, such as public access to info rmation and the protection of fundamental freedoms (target 16.10). 23. International human rights law recognizes the right of individuals to take part in the conduct of public affairs. 8 Article 12 of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights requires that States respect the right of individuals and groups to participate in decision-making processes that affect their health and development. Participation should be free, informed, active and meaningful (see A/69/213). 24. States should ensure that rights holders, including those from marginalized groups, are provided with the conditions to participate in the design, implemen tation and monitoring of laws, policies and strategies relevant to meeting the Sustainable Development Goals. The effective recognition, enjoyment and protection of public freedoms, including freedom of opinion and expression and freedom of peaceful assembly and association, is crucial in this respect. __________________ 7 8 16-13597 2015 Lancet Commission on Health and Climate Change, “Health and climate change: policy responses to protect public health”, The Lancet, vol. 386, No. 10006 (November 2015). Universal Declaration of Human Rights, art. 21; International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, art. 25. 7/26