人权理事会
上午

2015年3月6日

开启有关人权和气候变化问题的年度讨论

人权理事会今天上午开启了有关人权与气候变化问题的年度全日讨论，举行了一场小组讨论会，并在会上探讨了实现包括发展权在内的所有人（特别是弱势群体）人权方面面临的挑战和前进道路，以及各国在解决气候变化对充分有效享有人权产生的负面影响方面可以采取的措施和最佳做法。

人权理事会主席约阿希姆·卢埃克（Joachim Rücker）在介绍发言中表示，世界今年正处于一个十字路口：关于气候变化的新协议将在几个月的时间内制订，这不仅将决定环境的未来，还将决定整个社会的未来。

联合国秘书长潘基文在对理事会的视频致辞中曾表示，现在已经到了在气候方面采取行动的时候：世界必须实现经济转型并把握住低碳未来的可能性。他表示，在今年12月的巴黎气候大会上达成有意义的普遍协议便是这方面的重要步骤，并敦促理事会成员在这个历史性的一年中展现出领导力，以实现世界迫切需要的进展。

联合国人权事务副高级专员弗拉维亚·潘谢里在开场致辞中强调，一项基于人权的方法能够推动更加有效的气候政策和行动，尤其它力求明确和满足生活在高度不公平的全球社会中的弱势群体的最迫切需求。国际社会将在2015年开启一项雄心勃勃的议程，其中将包括确立新的可持续发展目标，制订一项关于气候变化且具有法律约束力的普遍协议，以及关于为发展筹资的新协定。

南方中心执行主任、小组主持人马丁·霍尔（Martin Khor）在介绍性发言中表示，世界还没有一个应对灾害的国际系统，而人权和气候正义需要解决这个拼图游戏。

讨论组成员包括基里巴斯总统汤安诺（Anote Tong），孟加拉国外交部长阿布·哈桑·马哈穆德·阿里（Abul Hassan Mahmood Ali），玛丽·罗宾逊基金会-气候正义组织主席玛丽·罗宾逊（Mary Robinson），联合国气候变化框架公约协调员兼首席法律顾问丹·邦迪·欧格拉（Dan Bondi Ogolla），土著人民权利问题特别报告员维多利亚·托利-科尔普斯（Victoria Tauli-Corpuz）和泛非洲气候正义联盟秘书长密斯卡·文达（Mithika Mwenda）。

基里巴斯总统汤安诺询问了解决气候变化方面的进展，并表示目前已经到了采取行动和解决所有问题的时候。没有比气候变化更重大的问题，这是全人类面临的最大道德挑战；气候变化和海平面上升是需要全球领导力的全球问题。必须充分探讨许多人不得不有尊严地搬迁和移徙的问题。

孟加拉国外交部长阿布·哈桑·马哈穆德·阿里表示，气候变化是世界在未来几十年的变革中需要解决的五大挑战之一。不同的国家、社群和人民的能力和对影响的脆弱程度都有很大不同，这便与平等的重要问题息息相关，需确保所有受气候变化影响的群体都能公平、公正和有尊严地获得资源和帮助。

玛丽·罗宾逊基金会-气候正义组织主席玛丽·罗宾逊表示，最容易受到气候变化影响的人就是那些由于地理、贫困、性别、年龄、土著或少数族裔地位或残疾状况已经处于弱势地位的人们。必须通过支持培养应对气候相关事件的弹性和能力等适应性措施，以及支持向低碳和适应气候的方式转型等方式保护他们在气候变化影响下的权利。

联合国气候变化框架公约协调员兼首席法律顾问丹·邦迪·欧格拉谈到了气候变化框架公约成员国在尽量减少应对措施对人权影响方面的实质性义务。关键挑战包括如何在气候变化框架和政策中纳入人权方面，以及如何在落实气候相关的行动时确保全面保护人权。

土著人民权利问题特别报告员维多利亚·托利-科尔普斯表示，气候变化问题政府间小组的第五次评估报告提出了对土著人民土地和生计的担忧，并明确指出土著人民的知识提高了适应性措施的影响。尊重土著人民参与权和确保他们能在决策制订和寻求解决方案的过程中发声是至关重要的。

泛非洲气候正义联盟秘书长密斯卡·文达强调了确保从广义上理解人权的重要性，这将把发展权置于中心位置。关于气候变化和人权的讨论不仅应该包括是否应该对各国造成气候变化负面影响的行为或无作为问责，而是应该关注如何最好地落实这项职责。

在随后的讨论中，发言者一致认为目前正越来越多地感受到气候变化的破坏性后果，这剥夺了人们的一些基本人权。气候变化是一项全球挑战，而各国应担负起主要责任，没有任何人能免除与其他人共同解决这项全球问题的道德责任。一名发言者强调称，减缓和适应是有效国际合作的基础，此外还应为能力建设和技术转让提供额外且可预测的新资金资源。

讨论者对将参与巴黎会议的大多数国家政府都缺乏对气候变化可能带来的灾害范围的全面理解，且在气候变化讨论中共对人权的关注不够表示关切。巴黎协定为作出两大重要的道德决定提供了空间：为了遏制碳排放和为使用措施提供充足的资源，它必须包括一项人权议程并纳入气候正义和公平的问题。

以下代表团参与了讨论：瑞典代表北欧集团，阿尔及利亚代表非洲集团，欧盟，菲律宾代表易受气候影响脆弱国家论坛，孟加拉国代表观点一致的集团，厄瓜多尔代表拉丁美洲和加勒比国家，罗马教廷，塞拉利昂，印度，智利，巴拉圭，萨尔瓦多，马尔代夫，委内瑞拉，越南，纳米比亚，法国，哥斯达黎加，斐济，加纳，美国，西班牙，印度尼西亚，尼泊尔，摩洛哥，玻利维亚，爱尔兰，爱沙尼亚，巴基斯坦，瑞士和伊朗。联合国儿童基金和联合国人口基金也作了发言。

在讨论中发言的非政府组织和国家人权机构有：苏格兰人权委员会、欧洲中心-第三世界、世界路德教联合会（联合声明）、方济会国际（联合声明）、国际青年和学生拥护联合国运动和南风发展政策协会。

理事会将于今天下午3点再次召开会议，届时将继续进行有关人权与气候变化的讨论，并举行一场有关气候变化对各国逐渐实现食物权的努力的负面影响以及相关政策、学到的经验和良好做法的小组讨论。

开场致辞

人权理事会主席约阿希姆·卢埃克表示，世界今年正处于一个十字路口：关于气候变化的新协议将在几个月的时间内制订，这不仅将决定环境的未来，还将决定整个社会的未来。今天的讨论将重点关注解决气候变化对人权的负面影响的挑战和最佳做法。

联合国秘书长的声明

联合国秘书长潘基文在对理事会的视频致辞中曾表示，气候变化威胁了人们实现可持续发展的能力，在一些情况下甚至威胁到他们的生存。它可能触发饥荒、政治动荡和对资源的争夺。气候变化问题政府间小组最新的评估确证了气候变化对妇女、穷人、土著人民、传统农民、海岸社区和移徙者具有不成比例的影响。生活在发展中国家，尤其是小岛屿发展中国家、非洲国家和最不发达国家的人们对危险碳排放的参与最低，却将受到最严重的影响。

秘书长表示，现在已经到了在气候方面采取行动的时候：世界必须实现经济转型并把握住低碳未来的可能性，在今年12月的巴黎气候大会上达成有意义的普遍协议便是这方面的重要步骤，秘书长敦促人权理事会成员在这个历史性的一年中展现出领导力，以实现世界迫切需要的进展。

联合国人权事务副高级专员的声明

联合国人权事务副高级专员弗拉维亚·潘谢里表示，人权理事会关于气候变化的七项决议明确详述了气候变化对享有人权的影响。基于人权的方法能够促成更有效的气候政策和行动，因为它力求明确和满足生活在高度不公平的全球社会中的弱势群体的最迫切需求。一项具有法律约束力的新气候协定可加强目前确保尊重和保护人权的承诺。国际社会将在2015年开启一项雄心勃勃的议程，其中将包括确立新的可持续发展目标，制订一项关于气候变化且具有法律约束力的普遍协议，以及关于为发展筹资的新协定。将在今后几个月作出的决定将具有深远的影响，它们能充分反映各国人权义务和私营部门相关职责是至关重要的。

在巴黎举行的重要气候谈判应在坎昆协议内容的基础上再接再厉，并明确援引平等、非歧视、问责、参与、赋权、团结以及透明等人权原则。需采取实质性措施降低气候变化的有害影响。公平的气候必须以人权为核心并预防和纠正任何对包括土著人民、少数族裔、贫困者、移徙者、流离失所者、老年人、残疾人和儿童在内的弱势、边缘化、受歧视或危险群体的负面影响。它还应为妇女赋权并保护其权利。潘谢里女士敦促各国遵守“关于人权和气候行动的日内瓦承诺”。副高级专员表示，今天的小组讨论为强调人权和气候变化之间的重要关联和促进以行动为导向的成果提供了进一步契机。这将促进拯救人类免受全球变暖不可逆转的变化及其对人权的破坏性影响的全球、地方、个人和集体行动。

Statement by the Moderator of the Panel

MARTIN KHOR, Executive Director of the South Centre and Moderator of the Panel said climate change had to be considered in a package because it was a complex issue involving the environment, development and human rights. The world did not have an adequate international system to cope with disaster. Developing countries needed to divert resources to climate disaster and contribute to the global mitigation effort but did not have sufficient resources, as recognized in Human Rights Council resolution (A/HRC/26/L.33) which called for resources to address special needs of developing countries. Future emissions had to be limited; but that limitation space would be used up in two decades. A solution to the jigsaw puzzle of human rights and climate justice was needed, said Mr. Khor, hoping the panel would contribute to the search for a solution.

Statements by the Panellists

ANOTE TONG, President of the Republic of Kiribati said climate change was the biggest challenge faced by humankind. Countries could not fail in their moral obligation to future generations. It was time to take action and address the issues. The President said 2015 marked a turning point in the journey, emphasizing that an approach to multilateralism would ensure no one was left behind. He posed several challenging questions on progress made in addressing climate change and global efforts into providing security and survival. For the Maldives, the Marshall Islands and Kiribati, climate change was about future survival. Just last week Kiribati experienced the highest tides ever recorded, sustaining damage to hospitals and roads. They needed to assess the costs.

Climate change and rising sea levels were a global problem that required global leadership, said the President. China and the United States’ commitment in 2014 to make a deal, and India’s willingness to join their group, were positive steps. Regardless of what the Paris agreement would be, the irreversible reality was that islands would go under water. Many people would have to relocate. A key issue was migration with dignity but the global community showed no sign of coming forward to discuss it. That reality had to be acknowledged by the global community, so people could migrate with dignity, and the Human Rights Council had to contribute through real action.

ABUL HASSAN MAHMOOD ALI, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Bangladesh, said the United Nations Secretary-General’s 2013 High-Level Global Panel identified climate change as one of the five challenges where the world had to make transformative shifts to in coming decades. At the micro level, climate change continued to affect the everyday life and livelihoods of millions of peoples in an active delta. They were not merely development issues, but grave issues of survival for over one billion people. It was necessary to distinguish between “climate-affected” and “climate-victims” in vulnerable countries. It was also important to acknowledge that the capacity and vulnerability of affected people and communities varied widely. The human rights perspective focused on the impact of climate change on the poorest, who suffered most due to low resilience and inadequate capacity to cope. Climate change posed an existential threat for fishermen and farmers. Bangladesh was one of the most vulnerable countries, said the Minister, but it had managed to install four million solar home systems and one and a half million improved cooking stoves. Bangladesh pledged to pursue a low-carbon growth path. Equity was a critical issue. All people affected by climate change should be able to draw on resources and support measures fairly, equitably and with dignity.

MARY ROBINSON, President of the Mary Robinson Foundation on Climate Justice, said 2015 presented a unique opportunity to set the global community on a new path away from fossil fuel-based development towards a sustainable alternative that would ensure the protection of the rights of generations to come. Climate change confronted the world with the reality of interdependence. Those most vulnerable to climate change were populations that were already in vulnerable situations owing to factors such as geography, poverty, gender, age, indigenous or minority status and disability. Those people needed to have their rights evoked in two ways: one, through support for adaption to build capacity and resilience to cope with climate-related events; and two, to be part of the global transition to low carbon, climate resilient development. Nobody could be left behind. Ms. Robinson recommended the creation of a forum under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Human Rights Council that could allow sharing of examples and good practices. The Geneva Pledge initiative had been developed to encourage that that happened at the national level. She also recommended that guidance be prepared for climate actors on how to integrate human rights obligations, standards and principles in their work. Countries needed to examine the links between human rights and climate change when preparing their reports to the Universal Periodic Review of the Human Rights Council.

DAN BONDI OGOLLA, Coordinator and Principal Legal Adviser, United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, said the interface between human rights and climate change existed on several levels, for example, the direct impact of climate change on the enjoyment of human rights, or the potential violation of rights due to responsive measures to climate change. Substantive obligations imposed on States parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) minimized the impact of response measures on human rights, and facilitated public participation, access to information and awareness programmes in States’ efforts to address climate change. National adaptation plans must be developed in participation with vulnerable populations, and on the basis of vulnerability assessments. Two key challenges were how to integrate a human rights dimension in the climate change framework and policies, and how to ensure the full protection of human rights in the implementation of climate-related actions.

MARTIN KHOR, Executive Director of the South Centre and panel moderator, acknowledged the proposals for the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) on the inclusion of human rights into the Paris agreement, and said that the issue of concrete implementation still remained open.

VICTORIA TAULI-CORPUZ, Special Rapporteur on the rights of indigenous peoples, said that the Fifth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) raised concerns about the land and livelihood of indigenous peoples in Bolivia, the Arctic, small islands, northern Europe and elsewhere. There were serious threats to the realization of the right to self-determination, enjoyment of basic rights and the rights to culture and knowledge of indigenous peoples. Indigenous peoples were outspoken about how climate change impacted their lives and what the solutions might be. Indigenous knowledge increased the impact of adaptation measures, particularly their holistic view of life and community which was recognized by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Community-based adaptation was a key to resilience and indigenous peoples led the way in fields such as sustainable agriculture in forests and the preservation of forests for carbon capture. Participatory rights of indigenous peoples mattered as well; giving them the voice in decision-making would improve the solutions.

MARTIN KHOR, Executive Director of the South Centre and panel moderator, commented that if more people adopted the principles by which indigenous peoples lived, 70 per cent of climate change would be resolved.

MITHIKA MWENDA, Secretary-General, Pan-African Climate Justice Alliance, said he was sure that human rights would be on the agenda of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC); it had to be ensured that Africa was considered in that context as Africans would be among the most affected people on earth. Mr. Mwenda stressed that the right to development must take a central position. Discussions on climate change and human rights should not be about whether States could be held accountable for their action or inaction that contributed to the adverse effects of climate change, but focus on how best to implement that responsibility. Mr. Mwenda reiterated the call made at the 2010 Social Forum for a Special Rapporteur on human rights and climate change. There could be no more timely moment to inspire such as appointment as the countdown to the decisive Paris Climate Conference where a new global agreement would be adopted.

Discussion

Sweden, speaking on behalf of the Nordic Countries, said the damaging consequences of climate change were being increasingly felt, especially for island States and low-lying coastal lands, and people were being deprived of some of their basic human rights: civil and political as well as economic, social and cultural rights. Algeria, speaking on behalf of the African Union, said the majority of people living in Africa lived in rural areas and worked in agriculture, and would be most impacted by climate change: 240 million Africans were already affected. The African Union as concerned by the limited progress made in international discussions and asked the High Commissioner to recommend policies to tackle climate change.

The European Union recognized that climate change was a global challenge, and said the primary responsibility lay with States. The panellists were invited to propose specific measures that would ensure protection for the most vulnerable. Philippines, speaking on behalf of the Climate Vulnerable Forum, said it was committed to raising awareness of the impact of climate change, which could undercut the rights to food, health, water and shelter. Bangladesh, speaking on behalf of the Like-Minded Group of Developing Countries, stated that it was important to consider how to instil human consequences in the climate change debate. The basic foundation for an effective international cooperation was based on mitigation and adaptation, along with the provision of new and predictable financial resources for capacity building and technology transfer. Ecuador, speaking on behalf of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States, recognized the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change as the correct path to face the threat of climate change. Human rights protection helped strengthen the resilience of communities facing the threat of climate change.

Holy See said that the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Paris offered an opportunity to make two important ethical decisions: for the world to agree to curb carbon emissions and to sufficiently fund the adaptation measures; no one was exempt from the moral responsibility to act in solidarity with others to address this global concern. Sierra Leone said that like African countries, Sierra Leone needed support in its adaptation measures, particularly in the transfer of cost effective technologies, and stressed that, if no action was taken, Africa would need $ 50 billion per year to fund its adaptation measures. India said that any human rights discourse on climate change should highlight the right to development and stressed that the support of States was not only a historic responsibility but a human rights obligation. The human rights agenda, and in particular the right to food and gender considerations, must be included in the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Paris, stressed Chile, underlying the issue of historic responsibilities. Cooperation on local, regional and international levels was indispensable in order to make the best use of alternative sources of energy, such as wind and solar energy, including new innovative technologies, said Paraguay. There must be broader cooperation between countries to address impacts of climate change, agreed El Salvador and added that the differentiated responsibilities must be considered.

Scottish Human Rights Commission called for the integration of justice and equity both in the sustainable development goals and the international climate negotiations to culminate in Paris at the end of this year; climate and development policies were more effective when designed with a human-centred approach. Centre Europe – Tiers Monde said that the majority of Governments that would take part in the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Paris did not have a full understanding of the scope of the catastrophe that climate change would bring about. Lutheran World Federation, in a joint statement expressed concern that insufficient attention was being given to human rights in the climate change discussions.

Mithika Mwenda, Secretary-General of the Pan-African Climate Justice Alliance, citing that the President of Kiribati had said that thousands of people were starving and that Kiribati was sinking, said climate change was like the Titanic. When it was sinking, the weak ones, women, children and those who could not climb, sank in the water and died fast. This was what was happening to Kiribati and to African countries. Kiribati and African and Pacific nations were sinking. Now, however, even the most powerful countries, the United States, Canada, and the European Union would have nowhere to go. Action was really needed on climate change.

Victoria Tauli-Corpuz, Special Rapporteur on the rights of indigenous peoples, said that climate change was the biggest result of the modern model of overconsumption and the search for profits, which had led to inequalities between countries. The United Nations Climate Change Conference in Paris would need to acknowledge the respect for human rights for all as an integral part of all climate change mitigation. It also needed to request input from the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights on how to operationalize human rights protection in human rights policy. It was well-known that contributions from indigenous peoples were the long lasting solution to the problem of climate change. Therefore, the current draft of the Paris agreement had to remove the brackets for indigenous peoples.

Dan Bondi Ogolla, Coordinator and Principal Legal Adviser of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, with regards to the comment made that Human Rights Council resolutions could not influence the progress of climate change, stated that this was not true. Regarding the question on how to integrate human rights into the climate change international legal instruments, Mr. Ogolla said that it was not a question of integrating, but a question of recognizing the human rights dimension in the climate change regime. When parties implemented climate change policies, they needed to take into consideration the human rights dimension, both at the policy making and the implementation levels. There was a need for the continuation of dialogue between the two communities – the human rights and climate change communities – so that climate change would fully respect human rights.

MARY ROBINSON, President of the Mary Robinson Foundation-Climate Justice, said that it should be recognized that the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Human Rights Council were separate mechanisms with their own processes; they should not encroach on each other’s mandates, but could cooperate and work together in a more intense manner. There should be a meaningful exchange between climate and human rights experts in order to better understand the discourse. Referring to her recent visit to Chile and meeting with communities, Ms. Robinson said that it was clear that empowered communities adapted better and this was the knowledge that needed to be transmitted to climate experts.

ABUL HASSAN MAHMOOD ALI, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Bangladesh, stressed the importance of acknowledging that the capacity of people and communities to adapt to climate change varied widely. Human rights perspectives should bring into focus that climate change hit the poorest and most vulnerable the most. The key issue was limited capacity and lack of resources in countries in need.

ANOTE TON, President of Kiribati, said that the question remained what were the solutions, and Kiribati asked for action because time was running out. Would the international community act in time, would indeed there be international action? People in Kiribati were not interested in how many degrees Celsius, but were interested in what was being done.

MARTIN KHOR, Executive Director of the South Centre and panel moderator, said that everyone acknowledged the need to intensify working together and that was why it was important that climate experts and human rights experts were present here today.

Maldives said that climate change posed a development and existential threat to low lying States such as the Maldives. It meant a loss of a whole civilisation. Climate change was a global problem that required a global solution and global cooperation. Venezuela said that what was needed was a predictable and sustainable model for development for developing countries. Following the legacy of Hugo Chavez, Venezuela was a leader in climate change and had positive examples for tackling climate change. Viet Nam stated that rising sea levels, floods and droughts had affected the right to development. Therefore the post-2015 development agenda needed to incorporate development with a human rights approach, with particular attention to vulnerable groups. Namibia was facing the most severe drought in 35 years. Deserts were spreading and rendering land uninhabitable. Namibia was dependent on natural resources, like many developing countries. UNICEF said that key decisions on reducing gas emissions in coming years would have a key impact on children. Children’s voices had to be heard. Climate change adaptation and mitigation policies needed to recognize children’s rights. France said that climate change had an impact on women and children. Natural disasters were increasing economic inequalities worldwide. The Paris Conference would mark a new stage in human rights, including the right to land. Costa Rica said that it was high time that the international community stopped rhetoric and did something concrete. Mental barriers had to be overcome. The Geneva Pledge on Human Rights in Climate Change could improve communication in this respect. Fiji said the Human Rights Council had to step up and take concrete action to deal with climate change, and States had to act upon recommendations. All thematic mandate holders had to be asked to consider the impact of climate change in their areas of expertise. They needed to mainstream climate change in all rights.

Ghana said that human life and dignity were affected by the global challenge of climate change, which required concerted global, regional and local efforts that must take into account the needs of developing countries and ensure that technology was shared with all without profiteering. United States said that all discussions of climate change in the Human Rights Council must focus on human rights and the role of the Council was to ensure that States respected their human rights obligations. Spain said that it was time to tackle climate change from a human rights perspective, to adopt a right-based approach in the fight against climate change, continue to build cooperation between countries and not forget the crucial issue of finances. It was important to ensure that appropriate linkages existed between the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Human Rights Council, said Indonesia, adding that concrete steps were needed that would take countries beyond their comfort zones.

Franciscans International, in a joint statement, said that the Human Rights Council had been unable to establish an appropriate mechanism to address climate change, and called for the appointment of a Special Rapporteur on human rights and climate change. This mandate could consult and report publicly on the impact of climate change on peoples and communities, and help clarify legal obligations of States and the equal share of the burden, said International Youth and Student Movement for the United Nations. Verein Sudwind Entwickslungpolitick spoke about desertification as a result of the erroneous approach of many governments in the Middle East and asked the panellists about their recommendations to countries with high carbon emissions. Nepal said that better understanding of the linkages between human rights and climate change was crucial, and that commitments must be translated into action based on common but differentiated responsibilities.

United Nations Population Fund underlined that climate change was one of most inequitable challenges of all time. The 20-year review chartered an equitable path to greenhouse gas emissions. The poor and marginalized were the least equipped to face climate change. Strategic use of population data was crucial. Morocco said that climate change had an impact on food security and development, and led to refugees and climate-displacement. Bolivia stated that the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change established a proper legal framework for sharing the responsibilities of climate change. Bolivia had launched an appeal for the creation of an international court on climate change, in order to be able to hear out those affected by climate change. Ireland said it had signed the Geneva Pledge and emphasized its importance. The integration of human rights into climate policy could be achieved through participation, accountability and education. Estonia said that millions were affected by climate change. Time was working against the world. A balance was needed between human rights and climate change. Pakistan stated that owing to its geographic and demographic situation, it was one of the top 10 countries affected by climate change. At the same time, it was one of lowest contributors to greenhouse emissions. There was a need to focus on the accountability of countries which were historically responsible for green-house emissions. Poor communities that had least contributed to climate change often bore the highest burden of greenhouse emissions. Switzerland stated that 2015 would place a new climate regime. The references in the Cancun Agreement referring to Resolution 10/4 of the Human Rights Council were still relevant. The commitments in 2015 could not set a lower bar than those of Cancun. Iran underlined the importance of human rights and climate change and the outcome document of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. Greenhouse gas emissions were the primary cause of climate change, and historically responsible States had to bear higher obligations in this respect.

ANOTE TONG, President of Kiribati, said that many agreed about the climate change issues and that the next challenge was what to do about it. It was a challenge to address in Paris and in the future, and the response to climate change was going to test out human values. Mr. Tong called on all to do something about climate change and do it in a humane way.

ABUL HASSAN MAHMOOD ALI, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Bangladesh, thanked all the delegates for their comments from which he ascertained a strong political commitment. Obligations must be met and they must be seen from a historical point of view. What was needed was a legally binding document which would set out an effective cooperation framework on financial compensation and technology transfer.

MARY ROBINSON, President of the Mary Robinson Foundation-Climate Justice, said that the debate today was even more serious than previous debates on the topic in the Council. All were more aware of the impacts of climate change and the injustice of those impacts. It was encouraging that the President of the Conference of Parties of the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Paris, President Holland, had made it clear that he wanted it to be not just a step in the protection of human rights, but a step in protecting the rights of humanity. There was double injustice in climate change: those least responsible were most struck by impacts, and they also risked to be excluded from the low carbon world; not leaving anyone behind required new political will.

DAN BONDI OGOLLA, Coordinator and Principal Legal Adviser, United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, said that this had been an enlightening discussion and that there was reason for optimism. First, the negotiating text that was on the table already contained human rights concerns, and secondly the linkages between human rights and climate change were growing which was important to develop practical solutions and climate change policies that included human rights.

VICTORIA TAULI-CORPUZ, Special Rapporteur on the rights of indigenous peoples, said that those who historically contributed to the problem should pay the greater proportion of costs; the polluters pay principle was adhered to. There were other countries that were presently contributing to the high level of emissions, and they had to carry their share of the burden. Future generations must be taken into consideration.

MITHIKA MWENDA, Secretary-General of the Pan-African Climate Justice Alliance, said that climate change was also an opportunity for partnership. Everyone acknowledged the need for a paradigm shift and a change in models of consumption: the question was how to transition from the fossil fuel based mode to the low carbon mode of production and still allow developing countries to reach the desired levels of development.

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For use of the information media; not an official record

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