No time for complacency: UN rights expert

The first test of States’ commitment to the principles of the Paris Agreement will be next week, said United Nations expert John H. Knox, reports UNB.
The government representatives meet in Bonn to negotiate the terms of a new international climate mechanism to transfer funds from developed to developing countries for projects that contribute to the mitigation of greenhouse gas emissions and support sustainable development.
“This is no time for complacency,” said the UN Special Rapporteur on human rights and environment.
“The fact that 177 States have signed the Paris Agreement in less than a month is very welcome news, but the hard work of safeguarding the environment and human rights is just now beginning.”
Knox recalled that the Paris Agreement is the first environmental treaty to include a strong commitment to protect human rights in addressing climate change, according to a message received here from Geneva.
“The Paris Agreement recognizes that States do not check their human rights obligations at the door when they enter a climate negotiation,” he said.
Ahead of the Bonn meeting from 16-26 May, the UN expert has made a number of recommendations on safeguards to protect human rights to the Paris Convention’s Subsidiary Body for Scientific and Technological Advice (SBSTA).
In a letter to the SBSTA, the Special Rapporteur called for the adoption of specific safeguards, such as prior assessments, provisions for public participation, and effective grievance procedures, that would help to ensure that proposed projects do not run rough-shod over the human rights of indigenous peoples and other communities that are most directly affected by them.

No time for complacency: UN rights expert

The first test of States commitment to the principles of the Paris Agreement will be next week, said United Nations expert John H. Knox, reports UNB. The government representatives meet in Bonn to negotiate the terms of a new international climate mechanism to transfer funds from developed to developing countries for projects that contribute to the mitigation of greenhouse gas emissions and support sustainable development. This is no time for complacency, said the UN Special Rapporteur on human rights and environment. The fact that 177 States have signed the Paris Agreement in less than a month is very welcome news, but the hard work of safeguarding the environment and human rights is just now beginning. Knox recalled that the Paris Agreement is the first environmental treaty to include a strong commitment to protect human rights in addressing climate change, according to a message received here from Geneva. The Paris Agreement recognizes that States do not check their human rights obligations at the door when they enter a climate negotiation, he said. Ahead of the Bonn meeting from 16-26 May, the UN expert has made a number of recommendations on safeguards to protect human rights to the Paris Conventions Subsidiary Body for Scientific and Technological Advice (SBSTA). In a letter to the SBSTA, the Special Rapporteur called for the adoption of specific safeguards, such as prior assessments, provisions for public participation, and effective grievance procedures, that would help to ensure that proposed projects do not run rough-shod over the human rights of indigenous peoples and other communities that are most directly affected by them.