A/HRC/16/62 rights and other implications. Examples of the World Bank’s work on social dimensions of climate change included: first, local institutions and climate adaptation, where evidence suggested irrigation and investments in dry lands were likely to bring more socially inclusive and sustainable results (Yemen and Ethiopia); and second, heavy investments which had been made in cyclone shelters in Bangladesh but were often under-utilized for social and gender reasons, moreover. early warning and preparedness were found to be much more effective when gender dimensions are included. Reference was made to the World Bank’s Social Dimensions of Climate Change Practice Group, which was aimed at realizing “climate-smart policies and operations in client countries that advance the interests of those who are the most vulnerable to climate change”. The World Bank’s Legal Department was finalizing a legal literature survey on links between human rights and climate change, explicitly avoiding supporting particular political and legal outcomes. The World Bank was also considering the “value-added” of a human rights perspective in the context of its work on climate change, focusing on most vulnerable people, on critical thresholds, and on procedural standards. 34. Ms. Mohamed-Katerere, an independent expert on human rights and environmental law and policy, spoke of the value of a human rights approach to governance for strengthening resilience, defined as the ability of communities and individuals to respond to the challenges of climate change and to maintain essential levels of well-being. Recognizing and strengthening human rights in governance helped level the playing field and ensure more equitable outcomes, which was consistent with the right to development. Human rights provided a benchmark for making choices and encouraging equity and nondiscrimination in outcomes, including in the distribution of costs and benefits. For example, at the national level the human rights-based approach provided a method for weighing climate mitigation and adaptation choices against impacts on the right to food, life and to a clean, healthy environment. Further, human rights thinking helped clarify rights, roles and responsibilities by distinguishing between (a) rights holders and stakeholders, and (b) beneficiaries and facilitators; and it enhanced the legitimacy and sustainability of choices and decisions, by increasing local support for globally agreed measures. Incorporating human rights strengthened coherence between different levels and sectors by emphasizing cooperation based on fundamental principles and encouraging long-term perspectives, and made vulnerabilities visible by disaggregating data which helped to reduce the likelihood of rights derogations. 35. Ms. Mohamed-Katerere suggested that establishing an effective climate governance regime required incorporating human rights into institutional and governance arrangements for financing, mitigation, adaptation, capacity-building and technology transfer. Where governance was weak or ambiguous, international human rights law provided binding obligations that ensured that decisions were made in ways that supported and did not adversely affect vulnerable or marginalized communities. Human rights governance approaches should be adopted currently in the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change negotiations, in other multilateral and bilateral agreements, as well as in future agreements and actions. In particular, measures to strengthen the voice of the most vulnerable should be taken, by building collaborative networks for adaptation and disaster risk management; establishing windows for their genuine and effective engagement in the development and implementation of policies that affect them; decentralizing policy determination; strengthening opportunities for participation of indigenous peoples, forestdependent communities, and other communities whose rights are affected by climate change. 36. Ms. Mohamed-Katerere deemed that establishing a system for allocating both benefits and costs was important to strengthen mitigation and adaptation. Such a system should be based on the principles of equity and fairness, including paying attention to the common but differentiated obligations of actors at global and national levels. Further, 13