12 March 2015 - “The intersection between human rights and climate change requires immediate and deliberate attention,” emphasized Ambassador Cecilia B. Rebong, Philippine Permanent Representative to the United Nations (UN) and other International Organizations in Geneva.
The thematic breakfast debate on March 05 was attended by high-level delegates to the 28th session of the UN Human Rights Council, Permanent Representatives and senior officials of international organizations as well as experts. Costa Rica’s Foreign Minister Manuel Gonzảles Sanz and Ms. Mary Robinson, former president of Ireland and now President of the Mary Robinson Foundation –Climate Justice, also delivered remarks during the event.
The intrinsic relationship between human rights and climate change, as well as efforts to enhance cross-sectoral collaboration in these fields, was the focus of the breakfast forum debate among policy makers and experts co-chaired by the Philippines as Chair of the Climate Vulnerable Forum (CVF).
“We need to further explore this intersection, define it and understand its implications. We need to encourage more delegations to discuss it with great candor; dissect the opportunities it offers and the challenges it presents; and ensure healthy and informed interaction among experts from various sectors,” Ambassador Rebong further stated.
Since 2008, UN human rights mechanisms have actively examined linkages with climate change. In 2009, the Office of the High Commissioner on Human Rights (OHCHR) produced a 32-page report on the relationship between climate change and human rights, outlining the implications on rights to food, housing, self-determination and safe drinking water.
“Climate change is the biggest threat to human rights,” Ms. Robinson declared.
The call to take bold and decisive action to address the negative impact of climate resonated throughout the forum.
The OHCHR reported that many of the least developed countries and small island states, which have contributed least to global greenhouse gas emissions, will be worst affected by global warming.
The Philippines loses 5% of its gross domestic product every year as a result of natural disasters.
The impacts of climate change have also brought to light certain sectors in society, such as women and children, whose basic rights are especially affected in the aftermath of disasters. This prompted the Philippine envoy to highlight the gender dimensions of disaster risk reduction (DRR) and climate change.
“As a vulnerable country, the Philippines takes disaster risk reduction seriously – and this includes ensuring that the vulnerable sectors within these vulnerable populations do not only receive the attention they need but are given important role in the formulation and implementation of the DRR program,” she emphasized.
Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Sanz emphasized the need to strengthen dialogue internal to governments, among governments, and across sectors and underlined the need for a clear, implementation mechanism.
The Philippine chairmanship of the CVF comes at a critical year for climate change, human rights and sustainable development. Climate change is on the table of most UN debates, in the lead up to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Conference of Parties in Paris in December 2015 where new climate change commitments will be announced.
The Philippines is also running for the Human Rights Council this year for a two-year term (2016-2018) during which it would seek to ensure that climate change and human rights remain in the agenda of the Human Rights Council. END