"Beyond Environmentalism: Why Climate Change is a Human Rights Issue" by Ruth Muigai

Climate change has become a pressing issue of global concern, as it poses serious threats to the environment and human well-being. The scientific consensus is that climate change is largely caused by human activity, and that it will lead to more frequent and intense natural disasters, sea level rise, food and water shortages, and more extreme weather events. However, climate change is not just an environmental problem; it is also a human rights issue that threatens to undermine the rights and dignity of individuals and communities across the world.

Many scholars and human rights advocates argue that climate change is a human rights issue because it disproportionately affects the most vulnerable and marginalized communities, including indigenous peoples, women, children, and people living in poverty. The United Nations has recognized the link between climate change and human rights, with the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) stating that climate change poses an immediate and far-reaching threat to people and communities around the world, and that it is likely to have serious implications for the enjoyment of human rights.

Several studies have explored the link between climate change and human rights. For instance, a report by the OHCHR identified a number of human rights that are affected by climate change, including the right to life, the right to food, the right to water, the right to health, the right to housing, the right to culture, and the right to development. The report also highlighted the disproportionate impact of climate change on certain groups, such as indigenous peoples and women, and called on governments and other actors to take urgent action to address the issue.

Other studies have focused on specific aspects of the human rights impacts of climate change. For example, a study published in the journal Lancet Planetary Health found that climate change is likely to lead to an increase in the prevalence of malnutrition, which can have serious consequences for the health and well-being of individuals and communities. Similarly, a report by the World Health Organization (WHO) identified a range of health impacts associated with climate change, including heat-related illnesses, vector-borne diseases, and water-borne diseases.

One major report from the United Nations Human Rights Council emphasized that climate change threatens the enjoyment of all human rights and that urgent action is needed to address its impacts. The report noted that climate change disproportionately affects vulnerable communities, such as those living in poverty, indigenous peoples, and small island states. It also highlighted the need for a human rights-based approach to climate action, which includes the meaningful participation of affected communities, gender-responsive policies, and a focus on the most vulnerable populations.

The United Nations has recognized the link between climate change and human rights in various resolutions and advisories over the years. These resolutions and advisories aim to emphasize the impacts of climate change on human rights and the need for urgent action to address them.

In 2008, the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) adopted a resolution recognizing the potential impact of climate change on human rights. This resolution called on states to take measures to address the adverse effects of climate change on the full and effective enjoyment of human rights.

In 2009, the UNHRC appointed a Special Rapporteur on the issue of human rights obligations relating to the enjoyment of a safe, clean, healthy, and sustainable environment. The Special Rapporteur is tasked with examining the impact of environmental degradation on the enjoyment of human rights, including the right to life, health, and a healthy environment.

In 2015, the Paris Agreement was adopted under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). The Paris Agreement recognizes the importance of respecting, promoting, and taking into account human rights in climate action. The preamble of the agreement notes that parties should, when taking action to address climate change, respect, promote, and consider their respective obligations on human rights.

In 2019, the UNHRC adopted a resolution on human rights and climate change, which emphasizes that climate change is a threat to the enjoyment of human rights and that urgent action is needed to address its impacts. The resolution recognizes that the effects of climate change are disproportionately borne by the most vulnerable and calls on states to take steps to ensure the protection of the rights of those most affected.

The UNHRC has also issued a series of advisories on the link between climate change and human rights. For example, in 2018, the UNHRC issued an advisory on climate change and the right to health, which emphasizes that climate change has a significant impact on human health, particularly on vulnerable populations.

In addition to reports, there have been several court cases around the world that recognize climate change as a human rights issue. For example, in a landmark case in Colombia, the Supreme Court ordered the government to take action to protect the Amazon rainforest and the rights of indigenous communities who rely on it. Similarly, in the Netherlands, a court ordered the government to take more ambitious action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to protect the rights of its citizens.

News reports have also highlighted the human rights impacts of climate change, such as the displacement of millions of people due to extreme weather events, the loss of livelihoods and food security, and the health impacts of air pollution. To cite a few:?

1. "Climate change threatens human rights, landmark UN study finds" - The Guardian, 22 September 2020.
2. "Climate change threatens to undermine human rights, UN official warns" - The Washington Post, 25 September 2018.
3. "Climate Change Is Already Harming Human Rights, Says New U.N. Report" - Time, 25 September 2018.
4. "Human Rights and Climate Change Intertwine, Says UN Expert" - Inter Press Service News Agency, 23 October 2020.
5. "Climate change a threat to human rights, say international experts" - Al Jazeera, 5 March 2021.
6. "Climate change threatens human rights of millions, says UN expert" - The Guardian, 19 October 2018.
7. "Climate change exacerbating human rights violations globally, UN warns" - The Independent, 24 September 2019.
8. "Climate Change Poses Major Threats to Human Rights, UN Expert Says" - VOA News, 4 March 2021.
9. "UN human rights chief calls for urgent action on climate change" - Reuters, 29 October 2018.
10. "Climate change is already causing deaths and serious human rights violations, UN warns" - CNN, 26 September 2018.

There are several countries that have passed legislation recognizing climate change as a human rights issue. Here are some examples:

• The Philippines: In 2009, the Philippines passed the Climate Change Act, which recognizes the right of every Filipino to a balanced and healthy ecology. The law also creates the Climate Change Commission, which is tasked with coordinating and monitoring the government's response to climate change.
• Bangladesh: In 2019, Bangladesh passed the Bangladesh Climate Change Trust Fund Act, which recognizes the impact of climate change on the country's human rights, particularly the rights of vulnerable groups such as women, children, and the poor. The law establishes a trust fund to finance climate change adaptation and mitigation projects.
• Mexico: In 2012, Mexico passed the General Law on Climate Change, which recognizes the right to a healthy environment as a fundamental human right. The law also establishes a national climate change policy and sets targets for reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
• Fiji: In 2013, Fiji passed the Climate Change Act, which recognizes the impact of climate change on the country's human rights, particularly the rights of vulnerable groups such as women, children, and indigenous peoples. The law also establishes a national climate change policy and sets targets for reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
• Scotland: In 2019, Scotland passed the Climate Change (Emissions Reduction Targets) (Scotland) Act, which recognizes the impact of climate change on the country's human rights, particularly the rights of future generations. The law sets targets for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and establishes a just transition commission to ensure that the transition to a low-carbon economy is fair and equitable.
• Bolivia, which passed the Law of the Rights of Mother Earth in 2010. This law recognizes the rights of nature and mandates the government to take measures to mitigate and adapt to climate change.
• France: In 2015, France passed a law that recognizes the impact of climate change on human rights, and includes measures to promote climate justice.
• Costa Rica: In 2018, Costa Rica passed a law that recognizes the right to a healthy environment, and commits the government to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
• Ecuador: In 2008, Ecuador adopted a new constitution that recognizes the rights of nature, including the right to exist, persist, maintain and regenerate its vital cycles.
• Maldives: In 2009, the Maldives passed a law that recognizes the importance of climate change and the need to address it as a human rights issue.
• Ireland: In 2018, became the first country in the world to declare a climate and biodiversity emergency, recognizing the urgent need to take action to address the impacts of climate change on human rights, ecosystems and biodiversity.
• UK: In 2019, became the first country to declare a climate emergency, recognizing the need to take urgent action to address the impacts of climate change on human rights, including the right to life, health, food and water.

Recognizing climate change as a human rights issue can have several benefits. Firstly, it can provide a legal framework for addressing the impacts of climate change on vulnerable communities. By recognizing the right to a healthy environment and the right to life, among other human rights, countries can be held accountable for failing to take action on climate change and for exacerbating its impacts on communities.

Secondly, recognizing climate change as a human rights issue can help to mobilize political support for climate action. By framing climate change as a threat to human rights, policymakers and the public can be motivated to take action to address the issue. This can help to build momentum for policies and measures that reduce greenhouse gas emissions, support adaptation to climate change, and promote sustainable development.

Thirdly, recognizing climate change as a human rights issue can help to ensure that climate action is equitable and just. By recognizing that vulnerable communities are disproportionately affected by climate change, policymakers can ensure that policies and measures are designed to address the needs of these communities. This can help to ensure that the benefits of climate action are distributed fairly and that no one is left behind in the transition to a low-carbon economy.

In conclusion, the impacts of climate change are far-reaching and multifaceted, affecting not only the environment but also human rights in a variety of ways. While climate change has traditionally been viewed as an environmental issue, it is increasingly recognized as a human rights issue that requires urgent action. The global community must come together to address the underlying causes of climate change, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and provide support and resources to those who are most vulnerable to its impacts.

It is imperative that the international community recognize the importance of addressing climate change as a human rights issue. This includes acknowledging the disproportionate impact of climate change on vulnerable populations, ensuring that climate policies are developed and implemented in a manner that respects human rights, and holding governments and corporations accountable for their actions and inactions that contribute to climate change.

As we work towards a more sustainable and just future, it is critical that we prioritize the protection of human rights and recognize the integral link between climate change and human rights. Failure to do so will result in worsening environmental degradation, social inequality, and a compromised future for all. The time for action is now, and we must act collectively to address this global challenge with the urgency and seriousness it deserves.