Protecting human rights amid the climate change crisis
On the occasion of the 56th session of the Human Rights Council, States, members of civil society and other stakeholders were convened by UPR Info to participate in a side-event dedicated to the understanding of the role that the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) can play to advance human rights in the context of the climate crisis.
The event brought together a group of experts to discuss the impact of climate change on human rights, highlighting the urgent need for a human rights-based approach to address this crisis. The discussion also explored the potential the UPR holds in addressing human rights issues affected by the climate crisis as it can enforce national laws protecting a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment and to implement public policies for mitigating climate impacts
Despite its potential, the recommendations made in previous cycles related to climate change were minimal, less than 1%, which demonstrates that the mechanism is not being used to its full potential to address these issues.
“Thanks to its universality, the UPR can be an extremely effective mechanism for addressing all human rights and is therefore the best tool for raising the visibility and addressing the impact of climate change on human rights.”
Mona M’Bikay Executive Director of UPR Info
Ms. Elisa Morguera, Special Rapporteur on Climate Change stated that in her research the evidence of climate change is having an undeniable impact on human rights and highlighted the urgent need for States to embrace a human rights-based approach in tackling the climate crisis. Furthermore, she stressed on the unequal impact that climate change has in different populations, especially on people living in vulnerable situation. Reflecting on the role of the UPR, Ms. Morguera stated that this mechanism can potentially serve as an action guide for different stakeholders and States.
Ms. Nela Cernota, from the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) highlighted the role that the UPR plays in exchanging good practices and addressing environmental crisis through a human rights lens. Ms. Cernota stressed the role that the UPR can play in adopting strong environmental laws and methods, reflecting procedural elements of the environment in their judicial systems, and that more references to responses to climate change could be included in national UPR reports. She also presented that UPR recommendations can enable the participation of populations living in vulnerable situations directly affected by climate change in environmental decision-making.
Mr. Christian Mounzeo, from Rencontre pour la Paix et les Droits de l'Homme (RPDH), provided a grassroot perspective illustrating the impact climate change has on vulnerable populations by exacerbating existing risks, such as agriculture productivity and disease-spread. Furthermore, he highlighted the role of the UPR in assisting civil society in awareness-raising activities, and forming strategic alliances to cooperate with the State for the alleviation of climate change. He also highlighted ongoing challenges in corporate accountability and governance, particularly in contexts of weak democratic structures, which can impede effective response to climate-related issues. The UPR due to its potential “should create conditions for cooperation to strengthen climate, forest, and land protection”, as Mr. Mounzeo stressed
In the concluding remarks, Ms. Francesca Mingrone representing the Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) highlighted the unique potential of the UPR, as a State-led exercise, to advance human rights in relation with climate change. Ms. Mingrone also noted that the focus on climate impacts often overshadowed other critical issues like loss and damage, and called for a stronger emphasis on transitioning away from fossil fuels. She argued that the UPR could help by providing specific recommendations and addressing corporate accountability.