Statement on human rights and climate change

The Special Rapporteur issued a press release today reminding all parties attending the Paris Climate Conference that “States’ human rights obligations also encompass climate change,” and urging them to adopt a rights perspective in tackling environmental issues.  “I call on Governments to honour their human rights obligations as they negotiate the climate agreement,” the expert stated. “Even including a reference to human rights in the agreement itself would be of great symbolic and practical importance.”