Human Rights
Call for climate reparations at the ICJ even more urgent after COP29 falls short
People whose rights are harmed by climate impacts deserve remedy and reparation – and legal clarity from the International Court of Justice would be a first step
How Azerbaijan locked up climate and social justice advocate ahead of COP29
Azeri economist Farid Mehralizada has argued that his country’s reliance on fossil fuels is unsustainable and dangerous – he is now in prison ahead of the climate summit in Baku
Bonn bulletin: Climate finance chasm remains unbridged
Governments split on when and how to set a dollar amount for new finance goal, and human rights activists seek stronger protection in COP host nations
Calls for responsible mining fail to stem rights abuses linked to transition minerals
As demand grows for critical minerals used in clean energy supply chains, new data suggests more protection is needed for communities affected by their extraction
UN climate fund axes Nicaragua forest project over human rights concerns
In its first such move, the Green Climate Fund has pulled out of a project after developers failed to address environmental and social compliance issues
UN climate fund suspends project in Nicaragua over human rights concerns
The Green Climate Fund suspended a $117 million forest conservation project in Nicaragua over escalating violence against indigenous people.
Moves to crystallise right to a healthy environment spark tension at UN
Incremental resolutions at the UN are starting to make the right to healthy environment tangible, but are running into pushback from states like the US.
European court hears landmark lawsuits that could shape climate policy
The European Court of Human Rights has heard its first two lawsuits on climate change, brought against the governments of Switzerland and France.
India’s female cane cutters face child marriage and hysterectomy
Women and girls in India’s sugar fields are exposed to sexual harassment, backbreaking work and inadequate healthcare
Egypt clamps down on activism and undocumented workers ahead of Cop27
Campaigners are hoping to use the global spotlight on Egypt to secure the release of political prisoners – but fear a backlash
Oil majors to face London, New York hearings over Philippines climate impact
Philippines human rights commissioner says taking hearings overseas will afford the 47 companies the best chance to confront the impacts of their businesses
UN committee urges Australia to rethink support for Adani coal mine
Human rights review finds Australia’s coal production ambitions will contribute to dangerous climate change and asks government to reconsider
US joins UN resolution to protect human rights from climate change
The US said climate change had “a range of implications for the effective enjoyment of human rights”, in a departure from recent diplomacy and Trump’s rhetoric
Climate policy must protect children’s rights, UN panel hears
High level panel at the UN Human Rights Council hears that a child rights centred approach to climate change is “overdue”
UN Human Rights Council declares climate a priority
Influential UN body considers human rights and climate change post-Paris, emphasises importance of the climate negotiations in protecting communities
Climate change is a matter of human rights, agrees UN
NEWS: Geneva-based Human Rights Council adopts resolution to help world’s most vulnerable countries in face of global warming
Human rights focus can strengthen Paris climate deal
COMMENT: Climate change may constitute the most serious challenge to the fulfilment of human rights in our world today
MEPs urged to back human rights safeguards on climate finance
NEWS: Hydropower and coal projects funded by rich countries have been linked to human rights abuses, NGOs tell European lawmakers
Mary Robinson: Climate deal must respect human rights
INTERVIEW: UN climate envoy and former president of Ireland says clean energy access for the poorest must be a priority
Climate change threatens human rights, Kiribati president tells UN
NEWS: Pacific leaders tell Human Rights Council they fear for the future of their civilisations as climate impacts intensify