UNFCCC

Under human rights law, States have obligations to protect those whose rights are affected by climate change, with priority given to groups that are particularly vulnerable. By extension, the UNFCCC, the Council and others have recognized that States must ensure that their responses to climate change do not themselves violate human rights.

In 2011, the UNFCCC took a critical step when it adopted the Cancun Agreements, which explicitly call on Parties to respect human rights when taking actions to address climate change.

The Paris Agreement in 2015 marked a watershed moment. The preamble called on countries to respect and promote human rights in all actions taken to address climate change. This was a landmark achievement: it marked the first reference to human rights in any multilateral environmental agreement. While the Paris Agreement is far from perfect, in this respect, it represents an important step.

The challenge now is to ensure that climate policies are designed, implemented and monitored in a manner that protects the full and effective enjoyment of human rights. For example, States must develop national climate policies – including through their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) – through transparent processes that promote the effective participation of all affected communities, including Indigenous Peoples and other vulnerable populations. It is also important to note that developed countries have responsibilities to assist poorer developing countries in their efforts to respect human rights, which complement developed country obligations under the UNFCCC.

Briefing Notes
Our Briefing Notes identify entry points for the promotion of human rights during sessions of the bodies established under the UNFCCC.

Climate Action Network (CAN), Briefing: UNFCCC Climate Dialogues (2020)

Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL), COP-25 Briefing Note: Integrating Human Rights in Climate Action (2019)

Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL), Integrating Human Rights in the Modalities Related to Carbon Markets Established under Article 6 of the Paris Agreement (2019)

Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL), Promoting Public Participation in Climate Policies: Key Entry Points in the Agendas of the SBI-50 and SBSTA-50 (2019)

Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL), Integrating Human Rights in Climate Action: References to Human Rights under the UN Climate Agreements (2019)

Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL), Integrating Human Rights in Climate Action: A dinner discussion at the June 2019 Climate Negotiations (2019)

Climate Action Network (CAN), Integrating Human Rights into the Paris Agreement (2018)

Women and Gender Constituency, Gender Equality in the Paris Implementation Guidelines- Gender Considerations for Bangkok: SB48.2 (2018)

Briefing Note: May 2018 Bonn Climate Negotiations- Integrating Human Rights to Climate Action (2017)

Briefing Note: Human RIghts in the May 2017 Climate Negotiations (2 pages). Also available in French and Spanish

Briefing Note: COP-22 Marrakesh Climate Conference (10 pages)

Executive Summary: COP-22 Marrakesh Climate Conference (2 pages)

Negotiation Updates
Our Negotiation Updates review from a human rights perspectives the decisions and conclusions adopted during a UNFCCC session.

Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL), 2020 Report from the Madrid Climate Conference: Promoting Human Rights in Climate Action at COP25 (2020)

Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL), Report from the Bonn Climate Talks, June 2019: Promoting Human Rights in Climate Action at the SB-50 (2019)

Promoting Human Rights in Climate Action: Update from the 2018 Bangkok ClimateTalks (2018)

Negotiations Update COP-23 Week 1 (November 2017): Integrating Human Rights in Climate Action

Negotiations Update COP-23 Week 2 (November 2017): Integrating Human Rights in Climate Action

Negotiations Update 2016-1: Integrating Human Rights during the May 2016 negotiating session

Submissions

The Climate, Land, Rights Alliance (CLARA) Submission to the APA on Agenda Item 3 (2017)

Negotiations of the Paris Rulebook: COP-23 Update – Nationally Determined Contributions – APA Agenda Item 3: Further guidance in relation to the mitigation section of decision 1/CP.21 (2017)

Submission on APA Agenda Item 4 in advance of COP22 and submitted by CARE International, CIEL, Franciscans International, ATD Fourth World, International Working Group on Indigenous Affairs (IWGIA), the Rainforest Foundation Norway, and WEDO (2016)

Submission on APA Agenda Item 3 prepared in advance of COP22 and submitted by CARE International, CIEL, Franciscans International, ATD Fourth World, International Working Group on Indigenous Affairs (IWGIA), the Rainforest Foundation Norway, and WEDO (2016)

Submission on APA Agenda Item 5 prepared in advance of COP22 and submitted by CARE International, CIEL, Franciscans International, ATD Fourth World, International Working Group on Indigenous Affairs (IWGIA), the Rainforest Foundation Norway and WEDO (2016)