COP30 climate conference (Brazil): FIDH experts available on human rights and climate action – Fédération internationale pour les droits humains

FIDH Engagement in Climate Negotiations and Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals

Strategic Objectives in Climate Justice Negotiations

The International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) has outlined its strategic engagement in upcoming climate justice negotiations. The organization’s objectives are designed to integrate human rights principles with global climate action, directly supporting the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The primary goals are as follows:

1. To advocate for a complete, time-bound, and equitable phase-out of fossil fuels. This action is deemed critical to prevent further human rights violations resulting from climate degradation, aligning with SDG 13 (Climate Action) and SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy).
2. To ensure that climate transition policies are fundamentally guided by human rights principles. This approach aims to deliver substantive justice and avoid replicating past abuses, thereby supporting SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities) and SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions).
3. To monitor and ensure the protection of environmental human rights defenders. These individuals are recognized as essential voices for ambitious climate solutions and the protection of universal rights, a key component of SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions).

Expert Delegation and Areas of Focus

FIDH has designated key experts to lead its advocacy and provide analysis during the negotiation period. These experts will be available for media queries from November 10th onward, following an initial period of availability ending October 31st.

• Hugo Gabbero, Director of the Human Rights Defenders Desk

  Areas of Expertise: Protection of human rights defenders, with a focus on environmental advocates. His work directly contributes to SDG 16.10 (ensure public access to information and protect fundamental freedoms). He will monitor negotiations concerning the reform of UN climate talks and the implementation of a just transition, which intersects with SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth) and SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities).

  Availability: In Belém from November 10-17; available online from November 17-21.

• Lucia Posteraro, Climate Advocacy Consultant

  Areas of Expertise: Negotiations on just transition, specifically the Just Transition Work Programme. Her focus on gender equality within climate issues provides critical input for achieving SDG 5 (Gender Equality). Her work on the work programme supports the broader goals of SDG 10 and SDG 13.

  Availability: In Belém from November 10-17; available online from November 17-21.

Media and Communication Protocol

• Contact in Belém:
  • Lucia Posteraro | Signal and WhatsApp: +33 7 81 21 26 05 | lposteraro@fidh.org
• Contacts in Paris:
  • Raphaël Lopoukhine | rlopoukhine@fidh.org | +33 6 72 28 42 94
  • Maxime Duriez | mduriez@fidh.org | +33 6 48 05 91 57

Analysis of SDGs in the Provided Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 13: Climate Action: The article’s core focus is on “climate justice” and “climate breakdown.” It explicitly calls for actions to combat climate change, such as the “phaseout of fossil fuels,” which directly aligns with the goal of taking urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts.
• SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions: The article is from a human rights organization (FIDH) and emphasizes preventing “human rights violations due to climate breakdown.” It specifically mentions the need for “Monitoring the protection of environmental defenders,” which relates to ensuring public access to information, protecting fundamental freedoms, and promoting just and inclusive societies.
• SDG 5: Gender Equality: The article makes a direct connection to this goal by noting that one of its experts “can comment on gender equality and climate issues.” This highlights the importance of integrating gender perspectives into climate negotiations and policies like the “Just Transition Work Programme.”
• SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy: The demand for a “full, time-bound and just phaseout of fossil fuels” is a direct call to transition the global energy system away from fossil fuels and towards clean and renewable energy sources.
• SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities: The emphasis on a “just transition” and creating “transition policies guided by human rights principles” aims to ensure that climate actions do not exacerbate existing inequalities. The goal is to bring “real justice” and avoid “abuses and mistakes of the past,” which often disproportionately affect marginalized communities.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

1. Under SDG 13 (Climate Action):
   • Target 13.2: “Integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies and planning.” The article’s call for “transition policies” and a “phaseout of fossil fuels” directly supports the integration of strong climate measures into policy.
2. Under SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions):
   • Target 16.10: “Ensure public access to information and protect fundamental freedoms, in accordance with national legislation and international agreements.” The specific point on “Monitoring the protection of environmental defenders” aligns perfectly with protecting fundamental freedoms for those who speak out on environmental issues.
   • Target 16.1: “Significantly reduce all forms of violence and related death rates everywhere.” Protecting environmental human rights defenders, who often face threats and violence, is a key aspect of this target.
3. Under SDG 5 (Gender Equality):
   • Target 5.c: “Adopt and strengthen sound policies and enforceable legislation for the promotion of gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls at all levels.” The mention of an expert who can comment on “gender equality and climate issues” within the context of the “Just Transition Work Programme” implies the need to integrate gender-responsive policies into climate action.
4. Under SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy):
   • Target 7.2: “By 2030, increase substantially the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix.” The “phaseout of fossil fuels” is the necessary counterpart to increasing the share of renewable energy.
5. Under SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities):
   • Target 10.3: “Ensure equal opportunity and reduce inequalities of outcome, including by eliminating discriminatory laws, policies and practices…” The call for a “just transition” that avoids repeating “the abuses and mistakes of the past” is aimed at ensuring climate policies reduce, rather than create, inequalities.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

The article does not mention official, quantitative SDG indicators. However, it implies several qualitative and activity-based indicators for measuring progress:

• Implied Indicator for Target 16.10: The article’s focus on “Monitoring the protection of environmental defenders” implies tracking the number of attacks, threats, and killings of these defenders. This aligns with the official indicator 16.10.1, which tracks verified cases of violence against journalists, trade unionists, and human rights defenders.
• Implied Indicator for Target 13.2 & 7.2: The call for a “full, time-bound and just phaseout of fossil fuels” implies an indicator based on the development and implementation of national and international policies that set clear timelines and plans for this phaseout. Progress would be measured by the adoption and enforcement of such policies.
• Implied Indicator for Target 10.3 & 5.c: The emphasis on “transition policies guided by human rights principles” and “gender equality” implies an indicator based on the content of climate policies. Progress could be measured by analyzing whether new climate and transition policies, such as the “Just Transition Work Programme,” explicitly include protections for human rights, provisions for gender equality, and mechanisms for social inclusion.

4. Create a table with three columns titled ‘SDGs, Targets and Indicators” to present the findings from analyzing the article.

Source: fidh.org