UN experts say COP30 must use human rights approach in climate action – Jurist.org

Report on the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP30) and Sustainable Development Goals

Call for Human Rights-Centric Climate Action

Experts from the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights have issued a formal statement urging participating nations at the UN Climate Change Conference (COP30) to prioritize human rights and negotiate in good faith. This call to action emphasizes the legal and ethical duties of states under international law to integrate human rights into their climate strategies, directly supporting the overarching goals of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

Legal Imperatives and Institutional Guidance

The experts’ statement is grounded in a recent advisory opinion from the International Court of Justice (ICJ), which was requested via a UN General Assembly resolution. The ICJ opinion affirms two critical points:

1. The right to a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment is an inherent human right.
2. States are legally obligated to exercise due diligence in protecting the environment and mitigating climate change.

This legal framework reinforces the principles of SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions) by leveraging international legal mechanisms to hold states accountable for their environmental and human rights obligations.

Integrating Sustainable Development Goals into Climate Negotiations

The recommendations put forth by the UN experts align closely with several key Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), demanding that climate action be holistic and equitable. The statement calls for measures that are:

• Aligned with SDG 13 (Climate Action): The core mandate is for states to regulate emissions from both public and private actors and to specifically target the role of fossil fuels in their economies.
• Supportive of SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities): Climate action must prevent and redress disproportionate harm to the most vulnerable populations, grounded in principles of equality and non-discrimination.
• Consistent with SDG 5 (Gender Equality): All climate policies and actions must be implemented in an “inclusive and gender-responsive manner.”
• Promotive of SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth): The transition away from fossil fuels must be managed to be “fair and inclusive for workers and communities,” ensuring a just transition.

Current Status and Debates at COP30

The COP30 conference, which commenced in Brazil and will conclude on November 21, is facing significant debate. Key challenges impacting the advancement of the SDGs include:

• Disagreement among nations on whether to prioritize contentious issues like the phase-out of fossil fuels (central to SDG 7 – Affordable and Clean Energy and SDG 13) or focus on less divisive topics such as deforestation.
• The absence of the United States delegation from the conference.
• According to COP30 President Andre Correa do Lago, the US absence has created an opportunity for developing countries to highlight their climate initiatives, potentially strengthening SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals) by fostering new leadership dynamics.

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

• SDG 13: Climate Action – The entire article is centered on the UN Climate Change Conference (COP30) and the need for states to take action against climate change, specifically by regulating emissions and targeting fossil fuels.
• SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions – The article references the legal duties of states under international law, an advisory opinion from the International Court of Justice (ICJ), and the need for countries to “negotiate in good faith,” all of which relate to strengthening institutions and promoting justice.
• SDG 5: Gender Equality – The experts’ statement explicitly calls for climate actions to be carried out in a “gender-responsive manner,” directly linking the issue to gender equality.
• SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities – The article highlights the need to “prevent and redress disproportionate human rights harm on those in most vulnerable situations” and for actions to be “grounded in equality and non-discrimination.”
• SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth – The call for climate actions to be “fair and inclusive for workers and communities” connects the environmental transition to the well-being of the workforce.
• SDG 15: Life on Land – The article mentions that “deforestation” is a key topic of debate at the COP30 conference, linking the climate discussions to the protection of terrestrial ecosystems.
• SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals – The COP30 conference itself is a prime example of a global partnership aimed at addressing a shared challenge. The article discusses the dynamics of this international cooperation, including disagreements and the absence of certain countries.

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

SDG 13: Climate Action

• Target 13.2: Integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies and planning. The article’s call for states to “regulate the emissions of public and private actors and target fossil fuels within their economies” is a direct reflection of this target.

SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

• Target 16.3: Promote the rule of law at the national and international levels and ensure equal access to justice for all. This is supported by the article’s emphasis on states’ “legal duties under international law” and the reference to the ICJ’s advisory opinion on state obligations.
• Target 16.8: Broaden and strengthen the participation of developing countries in the institutions of global governance. This is implied by the comment that the US absence has “opened some space for the world to see what developing countries are doing,” highlighting the importance of their role in global climate negotiations.

SDG 5: Gender Equality

• Target 5.5: Ensure women’s full and effective participation and equal opportunities for leadership at all levels of decision-making in political, economic and public life. The call for climate action to be conducted in a “gender-responsive manner” aligns with this target, as it necessitates the inclusion of women’s perspectives and participation in climate policy.

SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities

• Target 10.2: By 2030, empower and promote the social, economic and political inclusion of all. The experts’ statement that climate action must prevent harm to “those in most vulnerable situations” and be “grounded in equality and non-discrimination” directly supports this target.

SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

• Target 8.8: Protect labour rights and promote safe and secure working environments for all workers. The demand for climate transitions to be “fair and inclusive for workers and communities” relates to ensuring a just transition that protects workers’ rights and livelihoods.

SDG 15: Life on Land

• Target 15.2: Promote the implementation of sustainable management of all types of forests, halt deforestation, restore degraded forests and substantially increase afforestation and reforestation globally. The mention of “deforestation” as a key issue for debate at COP30 directly connects to this target.

SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

• Target 17.16: Enhance the global partnership for sustainable development. The entire context of the COP30 conference, where countries negotiate climate action, embodies this target of international cooperation to achieve sustainable development.

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

• For SDG 13: The article implies that progress can be measured by the establishment of national regulations on emissions and policies targeting the phase-out of fossil fuels. The number and scope of such policies would be a key indicator.
• For SDG 16: An indicator is the degree to which the outcomes of COP30 and national climate policies align with international legal obligations, such as those outlined in the ICJ advisory opinion. Another implied indicator is the level of influence and participation of developing countries in the final agreements.
• For SDG 5: Progress could be measured by the inclusion of gender-specific language and considerations in climate agreements and national action plans, as well as the proportion of women participating in climate negotiation delegations.
• For SDG 10: An indicator would be the implementation of specific measures within climate policies designed to protect and support vulnerable communities, ensuring that the burdens of climate action do not fall disproportionately on them.
• For SDG 8: The existence of “just transition” policies that provide support, retraining, and new opportunities for workers and communities affected by the shift away from fossil fuels would be a measurable indicator.
• For SDG 15: The article implies that a key indicator is the commitment made by countries at COP30 to address deforestation, which can be measured by changes in national deforestation rates and the amount of land reforested.
• For SDG 17: The success of the COP30 conference itself, measured by the ability of countries to reach a consensus and make meaningful commitments (“negotiate in good faith”), serves as an indicator of the effectiveness of the global partnership.

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

Source: jurist.org