National Committee announces the launch of the International Conference on “Human Rights and Climate Change” next February

English , Qatar - قطر , Snippets , / Wednesday, January 25th, 2023

Al-Attiyah: A broad international and regional partnership in the work of the conference for a climate approach based on respect for human rights.

The climate crisis is worsening and has become one of the most important global issues.

Climate change affects the rights to food, water, education, housing, health, development and life.

A stakeholder’s approach is needed to strengthen global efforts to protect human rights.

Doha: January 25, 2023

The National Human Rights Committee in Qatar will organize from February 21-22 an international conference on “Human Rights and Climate Change” in partnership with the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), the League of Arab States, and the Global Alliance of National Institutions. Human Rights “GANHRI”. More than 300 representatives of countries, international organizations, think tanks, universities, national human rights institutions, civil society organizations and international experts are participating in the conference in order to discuss climate change issues from a human rights perspective and to develop concrete recommendations for rights-based climate action for the benefit of all. Climate Action and Human Rights To emphasize the importance of rights-based climate action Highlight relevant good practices for Qatar and other actors and partners including governments, the UN, civil society organizations and businesses Develop recommendations to strengthen collaboration to support rights-based climate action across the world, particularly in the Middle East and North Africa region.

Her Excellency Mrs. Maryam bint Abdullah Al-Attiyah, Chairperson of the National Human Rights Committee, said: “This conference is an extension of the previous international conferences organized by the National Human Rights Committee, including those events that deal with issues of protecting journalists, digital human rights and combating terrorism while respecting human rights.”

Al-Attiyah explained that climate change directly and indirectly affects many internationally guaranteed human rights. She said: “The climate crisis is exacerbating and has become one of the most important global issues, and effective measures must be put in place to stop climate change, prevent, reduce and address its harmful effects. This would support rights holders in developing their resilience to the climate emergency.”

Her Excellency the Chairperson of the National Human Rights Committee indicated that the triple planetary crises of climate change, pollution and nature loss directly and significantly affect a wide range of rights, including the right to adequate food, water, education, housing, health, development, and even life itself. Environmental degradation has a greater negative impact on people living in fragile situations and developing countries with limited resources, as they have less capacity to respond and adapt to environmental degradation.

Al-Attiyah called for the need to achieve climate justice. Actions and measures directed towards addressing climate issues should be consistent with human rights law, principles and standards. As well as the implementation of the Paris Agreement under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, which calls on states to respect, promote and take into account their human rights obligations when taking climate action. Whereas, states committed themselves to international cooperation, guided by the principles of fairness and shared responsibilities with their disparities.
Al-Attiyah said: “The joint report of several special procedures mechanisms of the Human Rights Council entitled “Climate Effects on the Full Enjoyment of Human Rights”, which was submitted to the Twenty-First Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, clearly indicated in 2015, indicated that the rise in temperature global warming by 1.5 degrees Celsius, which would negatively affect human rights. This means that limiting global temperature rise to 2 degrees or even the more ambitious target of 1.5 degrees Celsius called for in the Paris Agreement is insufficient to protect human rights.

She added: ‘Efforts must be integrated to work together to raise the level of ambition and ensure that measures related to climate change and human rights are consistent, compatible and complement each other, as well as fairness and non-discrimination in everything related to addressing the effects of climate change based on human rights principles, principles and standards.”

Al-Attiyah noted the need for a participatory and comprehensive multi-stakeholder methodology to enhance global efforts to protect human rights, including the human right to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment.

Al-Attiyah explained that the participants in the conference will be representatives of international organizations specialized in climate issues, policy makers, academia, lawyers, human rights experts, climate experts, ministries related to climate change, including the ministries of justice, environment, energy, water, renewable energy, climate, development and economy, media agencies, research centers, companies and businesses. She said that the conference will be held in a mixed format through live attendance and follow-up via the Internet, taking into account health measures related to the Covid 19 virus, and the conference will consist of an opening session, three main sessions, three working groups, and an outcome session. Each session and workshop will have a chairperson and rapporteur, and a report will be presented at the end of the conference on the issues discussed and a summary of good practices and initiatives of the participating entities.