Interrogating Human Rights and Climate Change
From North Alaska to the Pacific Islands, the phenomena of climate change is threatening the lives and livelihoods of people.
At first glance, human rights and climate change appear to be disconnected but as the world increasingly experiences climatic devastation, the human rights of people, particularly the poor and marginalized, will be adversely affected.
There is no doubt that climate change will have immense human consequences. Looking at climate change through the human rights lens reveals the extent of human suffering that is a product of our treatment of the environment.
According to a report published recently titled “Climate Change and Human Rights: A Rough Guide, 2008,” climate change is already undermining the realisation of a broad range of internationally protected human rights: rights to health and even life; rights to food, water, shelter and property; rights associated with livelihood and culture; with migration and resettlement; and with personal security in the event of conflict.
To make matters worse, the worst effects of climate change are likely to be felt by those individuals and groups whose rights protections are already precarious.
