By Makaela Fehlhaber/ GICJ

The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights summed the urgency of the climate debate succinctly: “time is running out” and all nations hold a “collective commitment to leave no one behind”. On 28 June 2022, the Human Rights Council convened to discuss the adverse effects of climate change on human rights of people in vulnerable situations. The High Commissioner reminded delegates that the right to a healthy environment is a right to be enjoyed by all, and must be protected. With 3.3 billion people vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, the attention to action is greater than ever before. For vulnerable individuals, including indigenous populations, residents of small island and developing coastal states, the inequity that arises as a result of human induced climate injustices exacerbates the divide between them. 

She further highlighted that the inequity needed to be a predominant concern of the international community. A feminist approach towards climate justice was encouraged, as well as a human-rights based approach towards climate financing by corporations prepared to assist those most in need. 

Geneva International Centre for Justice (GICJ) implores developing nations, given their capacity to assist smaller, developing nations, to take collective action to protect and fulfil the right to a healthy environment. GICJ encourages grassroot initiatives and climate litigation as critical efforts to effect positive change and calls for the implementation of climate financing as “grants” rather than “loans” to nations and individuals plagued by this inequity.

Climate Change, Climate Justice, Indigenous Rights, Environment, Justice, Human Rights, HRC50, Human Rights Council, Geneva, GICJ, Geneva4Justice, Geneva International Centre for Justice