Resolution on Human Rights and Climate Change (see also attachment)
In a resolution (A/HRC/38/L.5) on human rights and climate change, adopted without a vote as orally revised, the Council decides to incorporate into the programme of work of the forty-first session of the Human Rights Council … a panel discussion on "Women's rights and climate change, climate action, best practices and lessons learned"… and requests the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to submit a summary report of the panel discussion to the fourth-second session of the Human Rights Council. The Council also requests the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, in consultation with and taking into account the views of States… and other stakeholders, to conduct, from within existing resources, an analytical study on the integration of a gender-responsive approach into climate action at local, national, regional and international levels for the full and effective enjoyment of the rights of women, to be… submitted to the Human Rights Council… no later than thirty days prior to the start of the Council’s forty-first session; and decides to consider the possibility of organizing follow-up events on climate change and human rights.
Viet Nam had the honour to introduce draft resolution L.5 on climate change and human rights, as orally revised, which had been co-sponsored by over 40 countries. The Core Group drew attention to the rights of women and girls in the context of the impact of climate change. The integration of a gender-responsive approach into climate policies at all levels was essential. Addressing adverse impacts of climate change required a comprehensive approach. Continuing and enhancing international cooperation was essential, in particular in financing, transfer of technology and capacity building, to build resilience and increase mitigation and adaptation in developing countries. The resolution called on the Council to hold a panel discussion on best practices and lessons learned with regard to climate actions and women’s rights.
Philippines, also introducing draft resolution L.5, thanked all delegations and said that seven bilateral consultations as well as group consultations and three meetings took place to incorporate all views. The impact of climate change on marginalized groups was increasingly recognized. Climate change forced people to find alternative forms of livelihoods. It was an existential threat. Women, girls, and poor populations were particularly at risk. A panel discussion and research would contribute to further knowledge on the subject. The Philippines hoped the resolution would be adopted by consensus.
Bangladesh, also introducing draft resolution L.5, said the Council was already aware that the focus of the resolution this year was women’s rights in the context of the adverse impact of climate change. Climate change had a deep, negative and disproportionate impact on the full and effective enjoyment of the human rights of women. This included, inter alia, the right to life, the right to food, the right to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health, the right to adequate housing, the right to safe drinking water and sanitation, and the right to development. Bangladesh urged delegations to deliver on the commitments made in the Paris Agreement, as effective and meaningful climate actions would inevitably require the due consideration and respect of human rights. Bangladesh urged the delegates to join the adoption of the resolution by consensus.
South Africa, in a general comment, said the United Nations Framework Convention for Climate Change was the primary forum where climate change should be discussed. The United Nations must respect its mandate. In looking at how climate change affected the realization of human rights, the Council must deal with this issue so as to ensure that it was not to the detriment of the Member States, and that it did not undermine the Paris Agreement. While joining consensus on the resolution, it was under the opinion that the resolution could have been strengthened in the spirit of the Paris Agreement, in light of, inter alia, technology transfer.
Slovakia, in a general comment on behalf of the European Union, said that climate change was a common concern of humankind and when taking action to address it, States needed to ensure that they were respecting, protecting and fulfilling their human rights obligations. While the European Union welcomed the focus of the draft resolution, it believed that the text could have been further improved, particularly with respect to the positive role that women could play as agents of change. The European Union stressed that the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities could not be applied to human rights, nor was it the only relevant principle to be taken into account in relation to climate action. All countries were vulnerable to climate change and human rights must be universally respected, regardless of a country’s economic conditions. The European Union added that it was confident that the implementation of the Paris Agreement would significantly strengthen and broaden international efforts to tackle climate change.
The Council then adopted draft resolution L.5 as orally revised without a vote.
In a resolution (A/HRC/38/L.5) on human rights and climate change, adopted without a vote as orally revised, the Council decides to incorporate into the programme of work of the forty-first session of the Human Rights Council … a panel discussion on "Women's rights and climate change, climate action, best practices and lessons learned"… and requests the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to submit a summary report of the panel discussion to the fourth-second session of the Human Rights Council. The Council also requests the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, in consultation with and taking into account the views of States… and other stakeholders, to conduct, from within existing resources, an analytical study on the integration of a gender-responsive approach into climate action at local, national, regional and international levels for the full and effective enjoyment of the rights of women, to be… submitted to the Human Rights Council… no later than thirty days prior to the start of the Council’s forty-first session; and decides to consider the possibility of organizing follow-up events on climate change and human rights.
Viet Nam had the honour to introduce draft resolution L.5 on climate change and human rights, as orally revised, which had been co-sponsored by over 40 countries. The Core Group drew attention to the rights of women and girls in the context of the impact of climate change. The integration of a gender-responsive approach into climate policies at all levels was essential. Addressing adverse impacts of climate change required a comprehensive approach. Continuing and enhancing international cooperation was essential, in particular in financing, transfer of technology and capacity building, to build resilience and increase mitigation and adaptation in developing countries. The resolution called on the Council to hold a panel discussion on best practices and lessons learned with regard to climate actions and women’s rights.
Philippines, also introducing draft resolution L.5, thanked all delegations and said that seven bilateral consultations as well as group consultations and three meetings took place to incorporate all views. The impact of climate change on marginalized groups was increasingly recognized. Climate change forced people to find alternative forms of livelihoods. It was an existential threat. Women, girls, and poor populations were particularly at risk. A panel discussion and research would contribute to further knowledge on the subject. The Philippines hoped the resolution would be adopted by consensus.
Bangladesh, also introducing draft resolution L.5, said the Council was already aware that the focus of the resolution this year was women’s rights in the context of the adverse impact of climate change. Climate change had a deep, negative and disproportionate impact on the full and effective enjoyment of the human rights of women. This included, inter alia, the right to life, the right to food, the right to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health, the right to adequate housing, the right to safe drinking water and sanitation, and the right to development. Bangladesh urged delegations to deliver on the commitments made in the Paris Agreement, as effective and meaningful climate actions would inevitably require the due consideration and respect of human rights. Bangladesh urged the delegates to join the adoption of the resolution by consensus.
South Africa, in a general comment, said the United Nations Framework Convention for Climate Change was the primary forum where climate change should be discussed. The United Nations must respect its mandate. In looking at how climate change affected the realization of human rights, the Council must deal with this issue so as to ensure that it was not to the detriment of the Member States, and that it did not undermine the Paris Agreement. While joining consensus on the resolution, it was under the opinion that the resolution could have been strengthened in the spirit of the Paris Agreement, in light of, inter alia, technology transfer.
Slovakia, in a general comment on behalf of the European Union, said that climate change was a common concern of humankind and when taking action to address it, States needed to ensure that they were respecting, protecting and fulfilling their human rights obligations. While the European Union welcomed the focus of the draft resolution, it believed that the text could have been further improved, particularly with respect to the positive role that women could play as agents of change. The European Union stressed that the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities could not be applied to human rights, nor was it the only relevant principle to be taken into account in relation to climate action. All countries were vulnerable to climate change and human rights must be universally respected, regardless of a country’s economic conditions. The European Union added that it was confident that the implementation of the Paris Agreement would significantly strengthen and broaden international efforts to tackle climate change.
The Council then adopted draft resolution L.5 as orally revised without a vote.
My best regards
Andy
