Nairobi, Jan. 24 -- Environmental threats like climate change and pollution are linked to lethargic enforcement of laws governing management of vital ecosystems, says a report released on Thursday by UN Environment.

According to the first ever global assessment of environmental rule of law, the quest to maintain a healthy and clean planet is being undermined by weak enforcement of legislation to protect it from natural and human-induced threats.

"This report solves the mystery of why problems such as pollution, declining biodiversity and climate change persist despite the proliferation of environmental laws in recent decades," said David Boyd, UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights and the Environment.

"Unless the environmental rule of ...