Fact sheet unpacks and links human rights and climate change
A new fact sheet sets out how the harms caused by climate change translate to human rights violations. Frequently asked questions on human rights and climate change also provides guidance for States on how to address the climate crisis while respecting, protecting and fulfilling human rights.
22 April 2021

South African environmental activist demands responsible business practices during COVID-19
Margaret Ghogha Molomo, an environmental activist in South Africa, says that protecting her community from destructive mining companies has been made harder by the assembly restrictions during COVID-19.
29 December 2020

Court ruling called a milestone in environmental justice
A court in Kenya has awarded the Owino Uhuru settlement the equivalent of USD$13 million in compensation for damage to the environment and health of their community blighted by lead poisoning. The court held that the Government and two corporations were responsible for lead contamination caused by smelting plant.
7 September 2020

High Commissioner calls on Pacific nations to continue their work at the forefront of the global fight for climate justice
The COVID-19 pandemic and the climate crisis share dangerous characteristics, the High Commissioner told a climate workshop in the South Pacific – and effective responses to both require immediate and global action to uphold human rights
17 August 2020

Bridging the divide between human rights and climate change from the Pacific
“The message is clear from Pacific youth activists: in spite of the COVID-19 crisis, climate activism must continue.” Solomon Yeo is a young climate change and human rights activist from the Solomon Islands.
6 August 2020

Persons with disabilities disproportionately affected by climate change
“Poverty, discrimination and stigma are the main elements that influence the impact of climate change on people with disabilities,” Catalina Devandas Aguilar, Special Rapporteur on the rights of persons with disabilities, told members of the Human Rights Council.
24 July 2020

Realising children’s rights through a healthy environment
“The survival, health, well-being and development of children depends on an environment that is safe, clean, healthy and sustainable,” said UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet. She was speaking at the Human Rights Council, during the annual full day meeting of the rights of the child.
7 July 2020

Expert calls for resolution on right to healthy environment
David Boyd, Special Rapporteur on human rights and environment, called on the Human Rights Council to pass a resolution recognizing the right to a healthy environment, saying it would lead to stronger State actions on environment.
11 March 2020

Report: Impacts of climate change seriously compromising human rights
“Climate change constitutes a clear, present and intensifying threat to the full and effective exercise of all human rights,” said UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet, during the launch of a new publication on the contribution of the Latin American and Caribbean region to the fight for climate justice.
23 December 2019

Young people are at the forefront of standing up for human rights
Human Rights Day celebrates and encourages the activism of young people standing up for human rights. “This has been a year of tremendous activism, most notably by young people,” said UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet.
10 December 2019

Losing your land to climate change
Climate change threatens the very existence of Kiribati and other small island states in the Pacific. “If we have to migrate because of climate change, we will have no land to return to. We don’t want to lose our fundamental rights – if our country goes under water because of climate change,” says Kiribati youth activist Rae Bainteiti.
23 October 2017

Children at forefront of climate action urge focus on child rights
“The battle against climate change is one that we can’t afford to lose because it’s the greatest threat to our survival,” 16-year-old Kehkashan Basu told the Human Rights Council.
9 March 2017

Spotlight on indigenous rights at COP22 climate talks
Nina Gualinga is at the forefront of the fight to make indigenous rights a priority in climate action.
17 November 2016

Paying the price for climate change in human health
After recounting the devastating impacts of climate change on health during a Human Rights Council event, Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights Kate Gilmore called for urgent action. “We know that change is urgent, necessary, possible and for our children’s children’s sake, we must make change doable.”
14 March 2016

Burning Down the House
The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights likens man-made climate change to being an arsonist burning down one’s own home. In this opinion piece, he urges solutions rooted in climate justice.
3 December 2015

Human rights must be part of any climate change agreement in Paris
Any climate change commitments being made by States must include a human rights element, said Craig Mokhiber from the UN Human Rights Office, speaking ahead of the COP21 climate talks in Paris this week.
27 November 2015

Climate change is a human rights issue
A human rights-based approach to climate change would render climate policy more effective because it would identify and satisfy the most pressing needs of vulnerable people, said Flavia Pansieri, Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights.
27 March 2015

Climate change impacts enjoyment of human rights
Recognizing the intrinsic link between human rights and climate change, experts on both issues took part in the “Climate Justice Dialogue.” The Dialogue, which took place in Geneva in early February, aimed to strengthen the links between human rights and climate change action ahead of the UN Climate Change Conference, which will take place in Paris later this year. The Dialogue was sponsored by the UN Human Rights Office and the Mary Robinson Foundation – Climate Justice.
17 February 2015

Rio+20 and human rights on social media: “The Future We Want”
On the occasion of Rio+20, the UN Human Rights Office launches a social media campaign inviting people to speak up for human rights in “The Future We Want.”
6 June 2012

Wanted: Human Rights in Rio
Civil society and UN experts call for an inclusive, just and equitable outcome at the forthcoming United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development.
2 May 2012

No boundaries for climate change
A UN Human Rights Council expert meeting addresses the adverse impacts of climate change on the full enjoyment of human rights.
16 March 2012

Human rights at the centre of climate change policy
The adverse effects of climate change may have a direct negative impact on the enjoyment of human rights.
11 October 2011

The 2010 Social Forum - Climate change and human rights
The Social Forum of the Human Rights Council meeting in Geneva calls for the integration of human rights in end of year negotiations aimed at reaching agreement on a global climate change treaty.
11 October 2010

Human rights key to climate change negotiations
A Human Rights Council panel emphasized the need to achieve a successful outcome that focuses on human rights at the year-end Copenhagen Climate Change Conference.
17 June 2009

OHCHR analytical study on climate change and human rights is now available
An analytical study on the human rights impact of climate change conducted by the Office of High Commissioner for Human Rights is now available.
23 March 2009

A human rights approach to tackling climate change
Climate change poses a direct threat to a wide range of universally recognized human rights. The Poznań Climate Change Conference, from 1 to 12 December, should take into account the human rights impacts of climate change and protect the people whose live
1 December 2008

Climate change and indigenous peoples
The Permanent Forum, which runs from 21 April to 2 May, brings together more than 1,000 indigenous representatives, senior UN officials, and representatives of governments, civil society and academia.
1 April 2008