How Does Climate Change Threaten Human Rights?
Climate Change is a Human Rights Issue.
Around the world, discussions have primarily focused on the scientific, economic, and environmental impact of climate change. According to Herbet Smith Freehills,
"Only recently has more attention been given to the human and social aspects, particularly to specific segments of the population as attention
has been focused on increasing levels of evidence about the impact on living conditions and human lives." The United Nations defines human rights as,
"Rights inherent to all human beings, regardless of race, sex, nationality, ethnicity, language, religion, or any other status. Human rights include the right to
life and liberty, freedom from slavery and torture, freedom of opinion and expression, the right to work and education, and many more.
Everyone is entitled to these rights, without discrimination." Climate Change threatens many human rights, now or in the near future. The rights to life, water and sanitation,
food, health, housing, self-determination, culture and development are just some of the rights threatened by climate change.
The diagram below shows the impact of climate change on various human rights.
Source: Herbert Smith Freehills
According to the United Nations Human Rights Office of The High Commissioner, "States have a human rights obligation to prevent the foreseeable adverse effects of climate
change and ensure that those affected by it, particularly those in vulnerable situations, have access to effective remedies and means of adaptation to enjoy lives of human dignity."