Analysis of Human Rights Language in the Cancun Agreements

This analysis argues that the Cancun Agreements mark significant progress in integrating human rights protections into the international climate regime, driven by NGO pressure and certain State Parties. It emphasizes that this language should guide the implementation of REDD and finance safeguards and calls for a rights-based approach leading into COP 17 in Durban, South Africa.

• The Cancun Agreements represent a significant advancement in the establishment of human rights protections within the international climate regime, overcoming previous attempts to remove such language from negotiating texts. This progress is attributed to the efforts of specific State Parties and consistent pressure from NGOs.
• The human rights language in the Cancun LCA Outcome is intended to inform the development of specific mandated processes and mechanisms, including finance safeguards, REDD safeguards, and the response measures mechanism.
• The author argues that the lead-up to COP 17 in Durban, South Africa, must integrate a rights-based approach to ensure the protection of all communities, with a particular focus on those most vulnerable to climate change.

APA

Center for International Environmental Law (2011). Analysis of Human Rights Language in the Cancun Agreements. https://www.ciel.org/reports/analysis-of-human-rights-language-in-the-cancun-agreements-unfccc-16th-session-of-the-conference-of-the-parties-march-2011-3/

Chicago

Center for International Environmental Law. Analysis of Human Rights Language in the Cancun Agreements. 2011. https://www.ciel.org/reports/analysis-of-human-rights-language-in-the-cancun-agreements-unfccc-16th-session-of-the-conference-of-the-parties-march-2011-3/.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Center for International Environmental Law |title=Analysis of Human Rights Language in the Cancun Agreements |date=1 March 2011 |url=https://www.ciel.org/reports/analysis-of-human-rights-language-in-the-cancun-agreements-unfccc-16th-session-of-the-conference-of-the-parties-march-2011-3/ |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{centerforinternationalenvironmentallaw2011analysis, author = {{Center for International Environmental Law}}, title = {{Analysis of Human Rights Language in the Cancun Agreements}}, institution = {Center for International Environmental Law}, year = {2011}, month = mar, url = {https://www.ciel.org/reports/analysis-of-human-rights-language-in-the-cancun-agreements-unfccc-16th-session-of-the-conference-of-the-parties-march-2011-3/}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }