States’ Human Rights Obligations in the Context of Climate Change

This Synthesis Note by the Center for International Environmental Law examines the obligations of States to respect, protect, and fulfill human rights within the context of climate change, specifically focusing on authoritative guidance provided by United Nations human rights treaty bodies (HRTBs) in 2018.

• Climate change negatively impacts various human rights, meaning that legally binding human rights treaties must guide climate action. These obligations mandate that climate policies effectively protect the most affected individuals and adhere to principles of meaningful public participation and non-discrimination.
• United Nations human rights treaty bodies (HRTBs) are tasked with monitoring the implementation of human rights treaties and elaborating on State obligations regarding climate change. In 2018, these bodies provided guidance on international cooperation, procedural rights, adaptation to climate impacts, and emissions reduction.
• The document includes specific syntheses of 2018 contributions from three particular treaty bodies: the Committee on the Rights of the Child (CRC), the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (CESCR), and the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW).

APA

Center for International Environmental Law (2019). States’ Human Rights Obligations in the Context of Climate Change. https://www.ciel.org/reports/states-human-rights-obligations-context-climate-change-2019-update/

Chicago

Center for International Environmental Law. States’ Human Rights Obligations in the Context of Climate Change. 2019. https://www.ciel.org/reports/states-human-rights-obligations-context-climate-change-2019-update/.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Center for International Environmental Law |title=States’ Human Rights Obligations in the Context of Climate Change |date=26 March 2019 |url=https://www.ciel.org/reports/states-human-rights-obligations-context-climate-change-2019-update/ |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{centerforinternationalenvironmentallaw2019states, author = {{Center for International Environmental Law}}, title = {{States’ Human Rights Obligations in the Context of Climate Change}}, institution = {Center for International Environmental Law}, year = {2019}, month = mar, url = {https://www.ciel.org/reports/states-human-rights-obligations-context-climate-change-2019-update/}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }