The Special Rapporteur on the right to adequate housing, Mr. Balakrishnan Rajagopal, will devote his next thematic report to the Human Rights Council in 2023 to the issue of the right to adequate housing and climate change.

In 2009, the previous Special Rapporteur, Ms Raquel Rolnik, already dedicated a report (A/64/255) to the question of climate change and the right to adequate housing. More than a decade later, we have a fuller understanding and evidence of how the climate crisis is affecting the enjoyment of the right to adequate housing all over the world, as well as how our housing solutions contribute to climate change and an unsustainable future.

We have now a more robust international development framework and, with the Paris Agreement, as well a legally binding international treaty on climate change, that is binding. UN Member States furthermore adopted the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and, with it, put in place the Sustainable Development Goals, including Goal 11 – “Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable”.

To inform his report Mr. Rajagopal welcomes contributions from States, local and regional governments, national human rights institutions, civil society organizations, academics, UN agencies and other stakeholders. 

Objectives

This new report will seek to:

• Take stock of the magnitude of challenges that the climate crisis poses to guaranteeing the right to adequate housing for all and the solutions that are needed in different contexts;
• Take stock of the different ways in which housing (through housing construction, urban sprawl, soil sealing, increased average living space, energy consumption, water use, pollutants, deforestation, desertification, loss of biodiversity, etc.) contributes to climate change;
• Provide guidance on how to ensure a just transition towards a rights-compliant, climate-resilient and carbon-neutral housing.

Key questions on which information in sought

Please download the questionnaire for more information on the issues on which information in sought.

• Questionnaire  English | Français | Español (word)

How inputs will be used

Submissions received will be published, except if confidentiality of the information is explicitly requested.