A/HRC/20/7 discussions on climate change and human rights have generally remained exclusive to their own domains, despite the substantive linkages between the two. The Foreign Minister explained that we must consider how to internalize the human consequences of climate change from a rights-based perspective, rather than through quantitative dimensions alone, particularly in the upcoming UNFCCC negotiations and in the Rio+20 discussions on sustainable development and green economy. The consequences of climate change have been strongly felt in Bangladesh where floods, cyclones, erratic rainfall, prolonged droughts, enhanced salinity, and severe erosion have caused forced displacement and migration. If the effects of climate change continue as projected, a one-metre rise in sea level would submerge one fifth of Bangladesh by 2050, and displace over 20 million people. The Foreign Minister noted that in 2010 alone, 38 million people had been displaced globally due to climate-related, rapid-onset natural disasters, well in excess of the number of individuals displaced by violent conflicts. The human rights impacts of climate change require an immediate response. 9. The Foreign Minister highlighted that customary international law requires every State not to knowingly allow itself to be used for acts contrary to the rights of others. There are also sufficient reasons to believe that emission reduction and compensatory finance imply human rights obligations above and beyond existing obligations under climate conventions. Therefore, countries which bear responsibility should voluntarily come forward with their own share of contributions of technology, climate finance, and human rights reparations. The Foreign Minister also stated that the human rights community should express views on the meaning of the term “equity” and its operationalization under the UNFCCC, as a fair balance between the rights and responsibilities of nations and communities. Furthermore, mitigation programmes such as biofuel and REDD (reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation in developing countries) should be examined. 10. The Commissioner for Climate Change of the Philippines, Mary Ann Sering, presented the next keynote address. Ms. Sering explained that the cross-sectoral implications of climate change were introduced to the consciousness of the Philippines following the past several years of worsening hurricane seasons. Costs resulting from natural disasters have increased 18-fold since 1970 and are still rising. Extreme weather events are currently compelling the Philippines to spend an estimated average of 2 per cent of its annual GDP on reconstruction and rehabilitation, which is threatening the Philippines’ successes towards achieving the Millennium Development Goals by taking funding away from the provision of basic services, such as education and health care. Two consecutive typhoons in 2009 caused a combined US$4.3 billion in damage and required another US$4.42 billion over the next two years in recovery and rehabilitation costs. Other impacts on the Philippines have not been financially quantifiable: the country’s depression and suicide rates have increased significantly following the hurricanes, due to the loss of loved ones, possessions and livelihoods. 11. These natural disasters prompted the Philippines to pass legislation in 2009 to create a Climate Change Commission. This Commission is chaired by the President of the Philippines in an effort to promote accountability and ensure that climate change is being addressed at the highest level. The Philippines recognized that its capacity to adapt to the effects of climate change is among the weakest in the world due to geographical and financial factors, and the Commission adopted a thematic action plan targeting seven specific areas impacted by climate change. Ms. Sering emphasized that climate change requires an enormous and global economic transformation to avert its impacts, and the international community must also consider the rights of developing countries to continue to develop sustainably. 5