A/HRC/20/7
70.
Second, standards that maintain the status quo exacerbate the problem.
Capacity must be built within the United Nations and other intergovernmental
organizations. This requires enhanced cooperation between agencies and the
integration of climate change and human rights throughout the mechanisms of the
United Nations, including the General Assembly, the Human Rights Council, special
forums, the universal periodic review, treaty bodies and special procedures. More
broadly, capacity-building can move forward by establishing a new annual or biennial
forum where States and all relevant stakeholders, including academic experts, civil
society organizations and representatives of those segments of the population most
vulnerable to climate change, can engage the issues surrounding climate change and
human rights, such as the concepts of “common but differentiated responsibility,”
“equity,” and the “right to development.” Further, a seminar or workshop on climate
change and human rights should be held as a side event at the eighteenth session of the
Conference of Parties in 2012.
71.
Third, many suggestions were made in support of appointing a special
mechanism such as a Special Rapporteur or Independent Expert on the issue of
climate change and human rights. Such a special-procedure mandate might focus on
mainstreaming the issue of climate change and human rights within the United
Nations and, in particular, within the existing mandates of the various special
procedures. It would also be the focal point of the human rights system in interactions
with the climate negotiations. Other worthwhile tasks might include documenting
effective practices, mainstreaming a human rights-based approach to climate change,
or developing language for a new legal instrument. To support this new special
procedure, existing mandate holders should be called on to integrate climate change
and human rights into their activities and to bring relevant linkages to their issues
before the Human Rights Council, the General Assembly and the various agencies and
bodies that they cooperate with.
72.
Fourth, the existing climate finance architecture requires structural and
conceptual change. Climate finance must no longer be characterized as charitable
contributions from developed countries, but rather it must be acknowledged as a
responsibility required of developed countries for their disproportionate responsibility
for greenhouse gas emissions and for the disparate effects felt by developing countries.
Climate finance must also address human rights issues directly by incorporating
human rights language. It must be adequate, predictable and equitable, and it must be
democratically governed so that countries participate on an equal basis. Finally,
climate finance should be structured so that developing countries are able to provide
input as to how they receive financial support.
73.
Finally, the need for technology transfer is urgent. It is not sufficient that
developed countries generate mitigation and adaptation methodologies if these are not
passed along to benefit people living in developing countries and small island States.
Failure to engage in technology transfer will either result in developing countries
abandoning their right to development or becoming the new contributors to
greenhouse gas emissions and exacerbating the effects of climate change.
16
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