PH Calls For Greater International Solidarity for Equity-Based Climate Action at Dialogue on Human Rights and Climate Change in Geneva
Permanent Representative of the Philippines to the United Nations and other International Organizations in Geneva Evan P. Garcia, participates in the Geneva Dialogues on Human Rights and Climate Change held on 17 May 2023 at the Palais des Nations in Geneva. (Geneva PM photo)
GENEVA, 23 May 2023 – Philippine Permanent Representative to the United Nations Evan P. Garcia, called for greater international solidarity for climate action on the basis of equity and justice at the Geneva Dialogues on Human Rights and Climate Change held on 17 May 2023 at the Palais des Nations, in Geneva.
“No other global challenge demonstrates in a profound and complex manner the indivisibility and interrelatedness of human rights than climate change and its adverse consequences to people and nature... our differentiated climate vulnerabilities and capacities should be taken as a call for convergence and solidarity – either because of a sense of moral responsibility or out of self-interest. We are all in this together. This is an incontrovertible fact”, Ambassador Garcia told an audience of diplomats, civil society representatives, and officials from the Office of the High Commissioner on Human Rights as well as UN human rights mechanisms and treaty bodies.
The Philippines, together with Bangladesh and Vietnam, runs an annual resolution on human rights and climate change at the UN Human Rights Council (HRC), which aims to promote greater understanding of the nexus between human rights and climate change in the context of climate justice. The ultimate goal is for the Council to contribute to ongoing efforts to build a global normative framework that can guarantee just, humane, and equitable climate solutions.
This yearly resolution has shed a light on the grave impacts of climate change on specific rights and key sectors of societies since 2008 when it was first tabled and adopted by consensus by the HRC.
Ambassador Garcia added that as the climate crisis intensifies and the demand for urgent and more ambitious climate action heightens, the HRC must also change gear and delve more into cross-cutting, strategic issues that impinge on a whole range of rights. These include loss and damage, just transition, climate change-induced displacement, and biodiversity loss, among others.
“Admittedly, these are difficult issues with fault lines along the usual North-South divide. We believe however that the Council cannot and should not shy away from tough discussions. Let us have faith in our capacity to see beyond what divides us and acknowledge our shared destiny”, Ambassador Garcia added.
The Philippines will be the penholder of this year’s iteration of the resolution which will be tabled at the 53rd Session of the HRC on 19 June to 14 July 2023.
Responding to a question on the landmark climate change inquiry by the Commission on Human Rights of the Philippines that found carbon majors accountable for obfuscating climate science and obstructing meaningful climate action, Ambassador Garcia stated:
“On the whole, we see the CHR’s inquiry as a monumental contribution to ongoing systemic shifts on climate litigation, which we hope will generate, sooner rather than later, the critical momentum for all stakeholders to finally comply with obligations fully in order to ensure a livable future for all of us.”
Amb. Garcia spoke during the Opening Panel together with H.E. Marc Bichler, Permanent Representative, Grand Duchy of Luxembourg; Ms. Peggy Hicks, Director of the Thematic Engagement, Special Procedures, and Right to Development Division, OHCHR; Mr. Surya Deva, Special Rapporteur on the right to development; and Mr. Hajo Lanz, Director, FES Geneva. END
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