A/HRC/16/62
Mechanism responded to knowledge needs expressed by developing country Governments
for a greater focus on sharing and reviewing good practice, practical resources and tools to
foster continued knowledge sharing and learning among stakeholders. She explained that
the objectives of the Mechanism were: to capture the state of knowledge on climate change
adaptation, with a particular focus on operational aspects; to promote the integration of
climate change adaptation aspects into development planning, policies, programmes and
projects; and to accelerate learning by sharing lessons on good adaptation practices and
operational guidance via a global adaptation network and community of practice. In order to
deliver on its mandate, the Mechanism targeted development practitioners and sought to
create partnerships across agencies, sectors and levels, and work with existing climate
networks.
28.
The above presentations were followed by interventions from representatives of the
Plurinational State of Bolivia and Egypt; representatives of the Center for International
Environmental Law, FIAN International, Associazione Comunità Papa Giovanni XXIII,
Nord-Sud XXI, Greenpeace International, Association of World Citizens; and Shyami
Puvimanasinghe and Jennifer Mohamed-Katerere, independent participants with expertise
in the subject matter. Reference was made to a study on the relationship between the right to
development and the Clean Development Mechanism of the Kyoto Protocol submitted to
the high-level task force on the implementation of the right to development, and the
OHCHR 2009 study discussion of extraterritorial obligations.
29.
Reference was also made to the World People’s Conference on Climate Change and
the Rights of Mother Earth, held in April 2010, and its Peoples Agreement, which was
subsequently submitted by the Plurinational State of Bolivia to the Climate Change
Secretariat in March 2010. It was argued that the model of development based on unlimited
growth went against human dignity and was destroying nature. It was suggested that a
human rights-based approach to climate change, the building up of the principle of
international solidarity as an individual and a collective right and the implementation of the
right to development were all instruments that could contribute to solutions to climate
change. The human rights approach should be focused on ensuring fair and equitable access
to resources. The access to justice component was often missing in responses to climate
change, and should be understood in a broader context both in the formal (judicial) and
informal settings (mechanisms of prevention and dispute resolution). Similarly, legal
awareness programmes with a human rights focus should be developed so that people were
made aware of their rights, including of the concepts of free, prior and informed consent.
30.
Concerns were raised with regard to the UN-REDD Programme, which for some
participants made the environment a commodity, while others objected to placing a
monetary value on the environment. REDD was described as not allowing for honest
consultation with those who opposed it on a principled basis, including indigenous peoples,
and that REDD would not save the forests even by the most optimistic estimates. It was
queried whether the UN-REDD programme should create a legal redress programme to
empower indigenous peoples to have access to justice and to provide support for
organizations and peoples who were affected by the programme. Scepticism was expressed
about the Clean Development Mechanism as a means by which developed countries
transferred responsibility to developing countries without assisting with their development.
One representative queried how the UN-REDD Programme measured whether participation
from indigenous peoples was meaningful and consistent with other human rights
obligations, and more broadly suggested that specific indicators should be developed to
measure whether human rights obligations were being fulfilled.
31.
In concluding remarks, Ms. Rosebush welcomed the critical thinking linked to
REDD as the UN-REDD Programme was currently working with countries and
stakeholders to design what the programme would look like. She also suggested that
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