‘Recognize impact of climate change on human rights’

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines has sponsored a draft resolution at the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) calling for the recognition of the impact of climate change on human rights.

If approved during the UNHRC session in Geneva this week, the resolution – co-sponsored by Bangladesh and Vietnam – would formalize the concern of the body over the role of climate change on the frequency and intensity of both sudden-onset natural disasters and slow-onset events.

It stressed the importance of continuing to address the consequences of climate change, particularly in developing countries and those in vulnerable communities.

The resolution would also encourage countries to consider the issue of climate change and human rights, including its adverse impact on the enjoyment of these rights.

It would also call on countries to adopt a “comprehensive, integrated, gender-responsive and disability-inclusive” approach to climate change adaptation and mitigation policies, consistent with the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.

The draft resolution noted the need of developing countries for support in technology transfer and capacity building, stressing that “countries lacking the resources to implement their adaptation plans and programs of action and effective adaptation strategies may suffer from higher exposure to extreme weather events.”

It called on countries to enhance international cooperation and assistance, particularly in supporting developing nations in implementing mitigation and adaptation measures to address climate change.

The draft resolution also cited the impact of climate change on persons with disabilities and – if approved – would provide for the creation of a panel in the next UNHRC session that would tackle issues concerning the promotion and protection of rights of persons with disabilities in the context of climate change.