Human rights expresses the entitlement of all people to be treated equally, to live their life in safety and freedom, and to be protected by their government. So many of our human rights, such as right to life, health, food, and an adequate standard of living, are adversely affected by climate change. We see the evidence of this, for instance, with each new extreme weather event and the devastation that ensues such as death and the destruction of crops and property. Without further action, climate change will continue to devastate people and the planet, and human rights will continue to be violated.
During COP 24, the UN climate change conference in Poland, 34 UN human rights experts – on issues ranging from business, development, and environment – called upon countries to take human rights-based climate action in line with the 1.5C temperature target in the Paris Agreement. The landmark joint statement has implications well beyond this climate conference, and sends a clear signal to national governments and fossil fuel companies alike.
The independent UN experts called on states to, among other actions, “commit to urgently increase their ambition, given the grave nature of the climate crisis and the pressing need for scaled-up mitigation efforts”; and “encourage businesses to integrate climate change considerations in their policies and practices, including their human rights due diligence processes and impact assessments.”
Explanation:
Human rights expresses the entitlement of all people to be treated equally, to live their life in safety and freedom, and to be protected by their government. So many of our human rights, such as right to life, health, food, and an adequate standard of living, are adversely affected by climate change. We see the evidence of this, for instance, with each new extreme weather event and the devastation that ensues such as death and the destruction of crops and property. Without further action, climate change will continue to devastate people and the planet, and human rights will continue to be violated.
During COP 24, the UN climate change conference in Poland, 34 UN human rights experts – on issues ranging from business, development, and environment – called upon countries to take human rights-based climate action in line with the 1.5C temperature target in the Paris Agreement. The landmark joint statement has implications well beyond this climate conference, and sends a clear signal to national governments and fossil fuel companies alike.
The independent UN experts called on states to, among other actions, “commit to urgently increase their ambition, given the grave nature of the climate crisis and the pressing need for scaled-up mitigation efforts”; and “encourage businesses to integrate climate change considerations in their policies and practices, including their human rights due diligence processes and impact assessments.”
