HRC 47 Climate Change: Joint statement under Item 2 during the Interactive Dialogue on the Annual Report of the High Commissioner

22/06/2021
Press release

UN Human Rights Council - 47th session

Item 2: Interactive dialogue

22 June 2021

Your Excellencies,

I deliver the statement on behalf of more than ten organizations echoing our open letter endorsed by dozens of civil society and Indigenous Peoples’ organizations. [1]

We are grateful for the High Commissioner’s continued leadership in highlighting the human rights impacts of climate change. Climate change is an existential threat for humanity, jeopardizing the realization of all human rights for present and future generations and aggravating intersecting forms of discrimination and marginalization against individuals and groups. While we welcome the work of many mandate holders on climate change, it is now time for the Council to appoint a Special Rapporteur on Human Rights and Climate Change. This would elevate the Council’s work on climate change in a systematic way, support States and people most impacted by runaway climate change, foster international cooperation, and promote respect for human rights in climate responses. In 2019, the Marshall Islands affirmed, on behalf of the Climate Vulnerable Forum, the urgency of creating such a mandate - a call supported by Bangladesh and 56 other States from all regional groups at the last session of the Council. Having called for the creation of a dedicated Special Rapporteur for more than a decade, we welcome this leadership.

It is now time to act. We urge States to establish a new Special Rapporteur on human rights and
climate change at this session of the Council.

Thank you.

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