Summary

Pursuant to Human Rights Council resolution 45/17, the Special Rapporteur on the implications for human rights of the environmentally sound management and disposal of hazardous substances and wastes, Marcos Orellana, presents to the Council his annual thematic report, in which he examines the toxic impacts of some proposed climate change solutions. Deep reductions of greenhouse gas emissions are urgent to tackle the global climate crisis. Decarbonization of the energy matrix and polluting sectors of the economy are indispensable to realizing the goals set out in the Paris Agreement. Yet, some climate technologies proposed in recent years may aggravate the toxic burden on people and planet. The Special Rapporteur puts forward recommendations aimed at accelerating decarbonization and detoxification strategies that are integrated and guided by human rights principles.