OHCHR study on the relationship between climate change and human rights

Human Rights Council resolution on human rights and climate change

In March 2008, in its resolution 7/23, the Human Rights Council decided to “request the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, in consultation with and taking into account the views of States, other relevant international organizations and intergovernmental bodies, including the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, the secretariat of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and other stakeholders, to conduct, within existing resources, a detailed analytical study of the relationship between climate change and human rights, to be submitted to the Council prior to its tenth session” (para. 1).

Report of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights on the relationship between climate change and human rights (A/HRC/10/61):
Arabic | Chinese | English | French | Russian | Spanish.

Full text of Human Rights Council Resolution 7/23 “Human rights and climate change” (PDF format):
Arabic | Chinese | English | French | Russian | Spanish

Submissions received

As part of the consultative process which guides the preparation of the study, Member States, United Nations agencies, programmes and funds, regional intergovernmental organizations, national human rights institutions, and non-governmental organisations have submitted information to the OHCHR.

Consultation meeting on climate change and human rights (22 October 2008)

The Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights is convening a one-day consultation meeting to explore the relationship between climate change and human rights. The meeting is open to Member States, Intergovernmental Organizations, national human rights institutions, representatives of non-governmental organizations and other interested individuals.

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.

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.