Climate action must be a key priority for National Human Rights Institutions, says Türk

International Seminar for National Human Rights Institutions
Impacts of Climate change on Human Rights

Video Statement by Volker Türk, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights

Greetings to all. At the outset, I would like to thank the El Salvador National Human Rights Institution (NHRI) for hosting this event and also for the good cooperation with my Office.

Without a doubt, the triple planetary crisis of climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution is one of the greatest threats facing humanity.

Its devastating consequences are not only wreaking havoc on our environment, but they severely compromise our human rights and freedoms, and our very survival.

The climate crisis is a human rights emergency.

And like many crises, it is unjust, disproportionately affects the human rights of the most marginalised, in particular children, indigenous peoples, women, older people, migrants, people of African descent, people with disabilities, coastal communities and peasants.

Last year, continuous drought in East Africa, record breaking rainfall in Pakistan and heatwaves in China and Europe affected tens of millions.

In Latin America and the Caribbean, the effects of climate change have been playing out for years.

The Andes, northeast Brazil and the northern countries in Central America are among the most sensitive regions in the world to climatic-related migration and displacements, a phenomenon that has increased in the last eight years.

In the Central American “Dry Corridor,” 11.5 million people live in rural areas vulnerable to drought, intense rains and food insecurity.

And from 2019 to 2021, food insecurity in Guatemala, El Salvador and Nicaragua increased four-fold - affecting almost 8 million people - as a result of the economic crisis linked to the pandemic and of extreme climate events.

Colleagues,

Less than a year ago, the world made history when the UN General Assembly recognized that a clean, healthy and sustainable environment is a human right.

The Inter American Court has also acknowledged the existence of an undeniable relationship between the protection of the environment and the fulfilment of other human rights. Similarly, the African Commission has indicated that both the right to an adequate standard of living and the right to development are closely linked with the environment.

These developments reflect a global consensus that the right to a healthy environment must be protected, and that States must scale up their efforts to make it happen.

This year, through our partnership with the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean, UN Environment and others - and thanks to Sweden’s financial support - my Office is also intensifying efforts in the region to promote this right.

Colleagues,

Three years ago, at your annual conference, NHRIs committed to work to promote climate action using human rights as the guardrail.

Through your mandates, you can support efforts to ensure access to effective remedies when climate change-related human rights violations occur.

Every day, you work to hold business and governments to account.

You are progressing dialogue and collaboration between civil society and the State, key drivers to a culture of respect for human rights.

And by listening to and promoting the voices of environmental and human rights defenders, you are advancing accountability and justice.

In this region, environmental human defenders have played an essential role in progress on climate action.

But many do so in fear of intimidation and reprisals.

I continue to call for respect of the right to participate in public affairs, including in environmental decision making, as also reflected in the Escazu Agreement.

I am also pleased to hear about the increased efforts by NHRIs to protect the rights of migrants, internally displaced people and refugees who have been compelled to move because of climate change. I encourage stronger cooperation to continue this momentum.

Colleagues,

This is a landmark year for human rights.

We celebrate the 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

We also mark the 30th anniversary of the Paris Principles, which laid the foundation for the recognition of the role that NHRIs can play.

These anniversaries are not just diary dates. They provide us with a real opportunity to harness ambition to make transformational change now, and for future generations.

And to use human rights for what they are – a unifying force.

This anniversary year is a pivotal time for States to renew their commitments to human rights.

I will continue to call on governments to respect and protect the independence of NHRIs and strengthen their support to them, including through the provision of adequate resources.

And my Office will continue prioritizing its technical assistance and capacity building to bolster your efforts.

If we all maintain the collective momentum to strengthen the vital work of NHRIs in line with the Paris Principles, I am convinced we will have at our disposal even more tools to take ambitious climate action.

Every nation has a choice of which path to take. NHRIs have an essential role to play in ensuring they choose the right one.

Thank you.