The Right to Live Free from Excessive Traffic Noise and in a Healthy Environment Is a Fundamental Human Right
Excessive traffic noise is not merely an infrastructure or budgetary issue. It is a human rights issue. Following an assessment of the situation in Ikšķile, near Latvia’s A6 national highway, Ombudsperson Karina Palkova concluded that the prolonged exposure of residents to elevated environmental noise levels affects their right to health, respect for private life, and the right to a healthy environment.
The Ombudsperson emphasized that when environmental noise reaches levels that may adversely affect people’s well-being and quality of life over an extended period, public authorities have a responsibility to take effective measures to protect the fundamental rights of those affected.
Ombudsperson Karina Palkova emphasized that:
“Traffic noise is not merely a technical or environmental protection issue. It directly affects fundamental rights, including the right to private life, the right to health protection, and the right to a healthy environment. These rights must not remain merely declaratory. The State has a responsibility to provide effective safeguards against excessive noise exposure. In this context, it is worth recalling the principle enshrined in the Preamble to the Constitution of Latvia: ‘Everyone cares for themselves, their relatives, and the common good of society, acting responsibly towards others, future generations, the environment, and nature.’”
The investigation found that the responsible authorities had been aware of the noise pollution affecting residents living near the A6 national highway in Ikšķile for many years. Data from the Health Inspectorate and strategic noise mapping confirmed that environmental noise levels in the area exceeded established limits, while residents had repeatedly raised concerns about the significant negative impact on their sleep, quality of life, and health.
During the investigation, the State Joint Stock Company Latvian State Roads informed the Ombudsperson that funding had been allocated for the reconstruction of the A6 road section in Ikšķile, including noise mitigation measures. Construction of a noise barrier is scheduled to begin in spring 2027 and be completed by July 2027. However, progress towards a solution was only achieved after years of persistent advocacy by local residents, who continuously drew attention to the problem and fought to have their rights protected.
The Ombudsperson’s opinion emphasizes that a general reference to insufficient financial resources cannot serve as adequate justification for prolonged inaction where the protection of fundamental rights is concerned. The State has a positive obligation to plan and implement measures in a timely manner to prevent serious infringements of human rights.
The Ombudsperson also calls for a broader strengthening of environmental noise governance nationwide. This includes improving spatial planning and land-use regulations to prevent residential developments from being established in high-noise areas without adequate protective measures. At the same time, responsibilities for implementing noise mitigation solutions should be clearly defined to ensure accountability and effective protection of residents’ rights.
The case highlights an important human rights principle: when authorities are aware of ongoing environmental harms that affect people’s health, well-being, and private life, they must take reasonable and timely action. Effective environmental protection is not solely a matter of infrastructure policy, but an essential component of safeguarding fundamental rights.