A/HRC/RES/41/21
Welcoming the World Meteorological Organization Statement on the State of the
Global Climate in 2018, its twenty-fifth anniversary edition, that highlights the record rise
in sea levels and the exceptionally high land and ocean temperatures recorded in recent
years, and expressing concerns at their adverse impacts on human rights,
Noting that the human rights obligations and responsibilities as enshrined in the
relevant international human rights instruments provide roles for States and other duty
bearers, including businesses, to promote, protect and respect, as would be appropriate,
human rights, including those of persons with disabilities, when taking action to address the
adverse effects of climate change,
Taking note of the reports of the Special Rapporteur on the issue of human rights
obligations relating to the enjoyment of a safe, clean, healthy and sustainable environment
focusing on climate change and human rights 3 and on air pollution and human rights,4 the
report of the Special Rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights relating to climate
change and poverty,5 and the report of the Special Rapporteur on the right to food focusing
on the right to food in the context of natural disasters,6
Noting with appreciation the work of the Climate Vulnerable Forum, which asserted
that climate change is a major threat to the enjoyment of human rights and fundamental
freedoms,
Noting the importance of facilitating meaningful interaction between the human
rights and climate change communities at both the national and international levels in order
to build capacity to deliver responses to climate change that respect and promote human
rights, taking into account the Geneva Pledge for Human Rights in Climate Action and
other similar efforts,
Noting also the establishment and work of regional, subregional and other
initiatives, such as the Small Island Developing States Accelerated Modalities of Action
(Samoa Pathway) on addressing the adverse impacts of climate change,
1.
Expresses concern that climate change has contributed and continues to
contribute to the increased frequency and intensity of both sudden-onset natural disasters
and slow-onset events, and that these events have adverse effects on the full enjoyment of
all human rights;
2.
Emphasizes the urgent importance of continuing to address, as they relate to
States’ human rights obligations, the adverse consequences of climate change for all,
particularly in developing countries and for the people whose situation is most vulnerable to
climate change;
3.
Calls upon States to consider, among other aspects, human rights within the
framework of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change;
4.
Encourages the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human
Rights to support the Secretary-General in the preparation of the climate action summit and
through its follow-up arrangements, in coordination with other relevant international
organizations, agencies, convention secretariats and programmes;
5.
Calls upon all States 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 and the
objective and principles thereof, to address efficiently the economic, cultural and social
impact and challenges that climate change represents, for the full and effective enjoyment
of human rights for all, and particularly to support the resilience and adaptive capacities of
persons with disabilities both in rural and urban areas to respond to the adverse impacts of
climate change;
3
4
5
6
4
A/HRC/31/52.
A/HRC/40/55.
A/HRC/41/39.
A/HRC/37/61.
Select target paragraph3
Connect to a paragraph
Connect to an entity
Disable highlights
Add to table of contents