Human Rights Council Addresses Climate Change and Sustainable Development Goals

Introduction: Climate Change and Human Rights

At the Human Rights Council session in Geneva, High Commissioner Volker Türk raised critical questions about the adequacy of current measures to protect people from the escalating impacts of climate change. He emphasized the urgent need to align climate action with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly those related to human rights, environmental protection, and social equity.

Key question posed: Are sufficient steps being taken to protect people from climate chaos, safeguard their futures, and manage natural resources in ways that respect human rights and the environment?

The conclusion was clear: current efforts are insufficient. However, climate change also presents an opportunity to leverage progress towards the SDGs through a “just transition” to sustainable and equitable societies.

The Right to Decent Work and Climate Resilience

Impact of Climate Change on Employment

Moustapha Kamal Gueye, senior official at the International Labor Organization (ILO), highlighted the severe challenges climate change poses to the human right to decent work (SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth).

1. Projected loss of 80 million full-time jobs by 2030 if current climate trends continue.
2. Exposure of over 70% of the global workforce (2.4 billion workers) to excessive heat during work.

Need for Social Protection Systems

Mr. Gueye stressed the urgent requirement for robust social protection systems (SDG 1: No Poverty; SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities) to safeguard workers, noting that less than 9% of workers in the 20 most climate-impacted countries currently have social protection coverage.

• Call for scaling up investments in social protection.
• Transition from reactive shock responses to institutionalized, rights-based approaches.

Opportunities in Low-Carbon Economies

Transitioning to low-carbon economies (SDG 13: Climate Action) could create over 100 million new jobs by 2030. However, Mr. Gueye cautioned that these jobs may not be located where losses occur, underscoring the importance of strong safety nets and strategic planning to ensure no one is left behind (SDG 10).

Defossilizing Economies and Knowledge

Phasing Out Fossil Fuels

Elisa Morgera, UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights and Climate Change, presented a report advocating for the “defossilization” of economies as the most effective strategy to reduce climate impacts while protecting human rights (SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy; SDG 13).

She highlighted the pervasive presence of fossil fuels in:

• Food systems
• Oceans
• Human bodies and brains

Defossilizing Knowledge

Ms. Morgera also emphasized the need to counteract fossil fuel interests that distort public understanding and undermine climate defenders. She called for informed, people-centered action at all levels despite geopolitical challenges, fostering hope and inspiring a course correction within the current decade.

A People-Centered Just Transition

Ensuring Equity and Inclusion

High Commissioner Türk concluded by reinforcing that a just transition must prioritize safeguarding lives, health, jobs, and future opportunities to avoid perpetuating existing injustices and inequalities (SDG 10; SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions).

Human Rights at the Core of Climate Action

Mr. Gueye echoed this sentiment, emphasizing that the global climate agenda is fundamentally a human story centered on human rights. He stressed that ambitions must go beyond numerical targets and indicators to focus on people, aligning with the holistic vision of the Sustainable Development Goals.

1. Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Addressed in the Article

1. SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
   • The article discusses the right to decent work and the impact of climate change on jobs, highlighting the risk of 80 million full-time jobs disappearing by 2030 and the exposure of 2.4 billion workers to excessive heat.
   • It emphasizes the need for social protection systems for workers affected by climate change.
2. SDG 13: Climate Action
   • The article focuses on the escalating impacts of climate change and the urgent need for a “just transition” to low-carbon economies.
   • It calls for phasing out fossil fuels (“defossilization”) as a key strategy to reduce climate impacts and protect human rights.
3. SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities
   • The article stresses that a just transition must ensure no one is left behind, addressing inequalities and injustices exacerbated by climate change.
4. SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being
   • References to safeguarding people’s health from climate chaos and the impacts of fossil fuels on human bodies imply relevance to health and well-being.
5. SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
   • The article mentions the role of the Human Rights Council and the importance of human rights in climate action, linking to strong institutions and justice.

2. Specific Targets Under the Identified SDGs

1. SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
   • Target 8.5: Achieve full and productive employment and decent work for all women and men.
   • Target 8.8: Protect labor rights and promote safe and secure working environments for all workers.
2. SDG 13: Climate Action
   • Target 13.1: Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters.
   • Target 13.2: Integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies, and planning.
   • Target 13.b: Promote mechanisms for raising capacity for effective climate change-related planning and management.
3. SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities
   • Target 10.2: Empower and promote the social, economic and political inclusion of all.
4. SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being
   • Target 3.9: Reduce the number of deaths and illnesses from hazardous chemicals and air, water and soil pollution and contamination.
5. SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
   • Target 16.6: Develop effective, accountable and transparent institutions at all levels.
   • Target 16.b: Promote and enforce non-discriminatory laws and policies for sustainable development.

3. Indicators Mentioned or Implied to Measure Progress

1. Employment and Labor Indicators
   • Number of full-time jobs lost or created due to climate change impacts and transitions (e.g., 80 million jobs lost, 100 million new jobs created by 2030).
   • Percentage of workers exposed to excessive heat on the job (over 70% of global workforce).
   • Coverage of social protection systems among workers, especially in climate-impacted countries (less than 9% coverage noted).
2. Climate Resilience and Adaptation Indicators
   • Implementation of “just transition” policies ensuring equitable and sustainable economic changes.
   • Phasing out fossil fuel usage in economies and knowledge systems (“defossilization”).
3. Human Rights and Social Inclusion Indicators
   • Measures of inequality and exclusion exacerbated or mitigated by climate policies.
   • Protection of human rights in climate action frameworks.
4. Health Indicators
   • Incidence of health issues related to pollution and fossil fuel exposure.

4. Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: news.un.org