Human rights and climate change

It is becoming apparent that climate change will have implications for the enjoyment of human rights. The United Nations Human Rights Council recognized this in its resolution 7/23(PDF) “Human rights and climate change” (28 March 2008), expressing concern that climate change “poses an immediate and far-reaching threat to people and communities around the word” and requesting the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner to prepare a study on the relationship between climate change and human rights.

The Fourth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) (2007) put it beyond doubt that the global climate system is warming and doing so mainly because of man-made greenhouse gas emissions. IPCC reports and other studies document how global warming will affect, and already is affecting, the basic elements of life for millions of people around the world. Effects include an increasing frequency of extreme weather events, rising sea levels, droughts, increasing water shortages, and the spread of tropical and vector born diseases.

Viewing the data through a human rights lens, it is clear that projected climate change-related effects threaten the effective enjoyment of a range of human rights, such as the right to safe and adequate water and food, the right to health and adequate housing. Equally, the human rights perspective brings into focus that climate change is set to hit the poorest countries and communities the hardest.

The international human rights standards serve as a guide for measures to tackle climate change, underscoring the fundamental moral and legal obligations to protect and promote full enjoyment of the rights enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and in the core universal human rights treaties.

Action by the Human Rights Council

On 28 March 2008, the Human Rights Council adopted its first resolution on “human rights and climate change” (res. 7/23). In implementation of that resolution, OHCHR prepared and submitted a study on the relationship between climate change and human rights (A/HRC/10/61) to the tenth session of the Council held in March 2009. On 25 March 2009, the Council adopted resolution 10/4 “Human rights and climate change” in which it, inter alia, notes that “climate change-related impacts have a range of implications, both direct and indirect, for the effective enjoyment of human rights …”; recognizes that the effects of climate change “will be felt most acutely by those segments of the population who are already in a vulnerable situation …”, recognizes that “effective international cooperation to enable the full, effective and sustained implementation of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change … is important in order to support national efforts for the realization of human rights implicated by climate change-related impacts”, and affirms that “human rights obligations and commitments have the potential to inform and strengthen international and national policy-making in the area of climate change”.

In resolution 10/4, the Council decided to hold a panel discussion on the relationship between climate change and human rights at its eleventh session in order to contribute to the realization of the goals set out in the Bali Action Plan. The panel discussion was held on 15 June 2009 at the Palais des Nations, Geneva, from 3.00 to 6.00 p.m. (see webcast and summary of discussions).

In implementation of resolutions 7/23 and 10/4, the OHCHR study and a summary of the Council’s discussions will be made available to the Conference of Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP15) for its consideration.

OHCHR statements on human rights and climate change

Key note address by Ms. Kyung-wha Kang, Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights, 7th Gathering for Human Rights "Climate Change and Human Rights" organized by the State Council of the Republic and Canton of Geneva, 28 September 2009, Geneva.

Opening remarks by Ms. Kyung-wha Kang, Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights, Human Rights Council Panel Discussion on the relationship between climate change and human rights, 15 June 2009, Geneva.

“Human Rights and Climate Change”, contribution by Ms. Navanethem Pillay, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, to the Climate Thinkers Blog on the host-country web site of the 2009 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP15).

“Climate Change and Human Rights", Address by Ms. Kyung-wha Kang, Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights, Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and its Kyoto Protocol, 3-14 December 2007, Bali, Indonesia.

The Human Rights Impact of Climate Change (PDF), United Nations Joint Press Kit for Bali Climate Change Conference, 3-14 December 2007

“Climate Change, Migration and Human Rights”, Address by Ms. Kyung-wha Kang Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights, Conference on Climate Change and Migration: Addressing Vulnerabilities and Harnessing Opportunities, 19 February 2008, Geneva.

Keynote Address (PDF) by Ms. María Francisca Ize-Charrin, Director, Research and Right to Development Division, OHCHR, Chatham House Debate on the motion: “This House believes that climate change violates the universal right of all peoples to live in a safe and sustainable environment”, 17 September 2008, Geneva.

Useful links

Gateway to the United Nations System's Work on Climate Change
Links to climate change programmes of United Nations agencies, funds and programmes and news on events and recent publications of the United Nations system.

Web site of the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen (COP15), 7-18 December 2009

United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change
Provides background and information on the UNFCCC and its Kyoto Protocol, including on cooperation and support for the implementation of the Convention and intergovernmental climate change negotiations.

Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change
Provides assessments and information, based on the latest scientific, technical and socio-economic literature, on observed and projected impacts of human-induced climate change.