PROMOTING HUMAN RIGHTS IN CLIMATE ACTION: REPORT FROM THE GLASGOW CLIMATE CONFERENCE (COP26)

This CIEL briefing analyzes COP26, arguing that while some progress was made in mentioning human rights and fossil fuels, the overall outcomes were undermined by exclusionary negotiation processes and a failure to implement binding human rights safeguards. Key issues include the persistence of fossil fuel influence, the creation of carbon market rules that may allow 'junk credits', and the watering down of loss and damage financing. The report calls for a more robust, people-centered approach in the lead-up to COP27 and the first Global Stocktake.

• COP26 was characterized by significant barriers to inclusivity and public participation, despite the UK Presidency's promise of 'the most inclusive COP ever'. Accredited observers were completely banned from negotiation spaces during the first two days, and subsequent participation was hindered by frequent modality changes and a malfunctioning virtual platform.
• The 'Glasgow Climate Pact' is criticized for failing to effectively confront the fossil fuel industry. While it marks the first time fossil fuels were named as the main driver of the climate crisis in UNFCCC negotiations, the outcome only addresses inefficient fossil fuel subsidies and unabated coal, excluding oil and gas and allowing for unproven technologies like carbon capture and storage.
• Rules for Article 6 of the Paris Agreement were concluded, incorporating references to human rights and Indigenous Peoples' rights in the annexes. However, these are deemed insufficient as they do not ensure free, prior and informed consent (FPIC) for Indigenous Peoples, lack a just transition and labor rights framework, and allow the use of 'junk credits' from the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) dating back to 2013.
• Progress on 'loss and damage' was limited to institutional steps, such as the operationalization of the Santiago Network. The proposed Glasgow Finance Facility for Loss and Damage was significantly watered down into the 'Glasgow Dialogue', which concludes in June 2024. Notably, Scotland and the Walloon region of Belgium provided small but symbolic financial pledges of £2 million and 1 million euros, respectively.
• The new ten-year Glasgow Work Program on Action for Climate Empowerment (ACE) was developed through an exclusionary process. A reference to a 'human rights-based approach' was deleted from the final text during closed-door negotiations, although a subsequent cover decision urged Parties to implement the program while respecting human rights obligations.
• The document highlights several secondary outcomes: the 'Glasgow Leaders’ Declaration on Forests and Land Use' (endorsed by 141 States) included a $1.7 billion commitment for forest tenure rights; the Climate Technology Center and Network (CTCN) improved representation by adding six observer constituency representatives to its Advisory Board; and the Koronivia Joint Work on Agriculture (KJWA) was postponed to COP27 due to disagreements over issues like 'agroecology'.
• Gender-responsive climate action remained superficial at COP26, with women making up only 35% of registered delegates. The updated 5-year Gender Action Plan (GAP) lacked clear guidance for its 2022 review and failed to address the power relations driving gender inequalities.

APA

Center for International Environmental Law (2022). PROMOTING HUMAN RIGHTS IN CLIMATE ACTION: REPORT FROM THE GLASGOW CLIMATE CONFERENCE (COP26). https://www.ciel.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/2022_02_25_CIEL_Briefing-Note_Report-from-the-Glasgow-climate-conference.pdf

Chicago

Center for International Environmental Law. PROMOTING HUMAN RIGHTS IN CLIMATE ACTION: REPORT FROM THE GLASGOW CLIMATE CONFERENCE (COP26). 2022. https://www.ciel.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/2022_02_25_CIEL_Briefing-Note_Report-from-the-Glasgow-climate-conference.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Center for International Environmental Law |title=PROMOTING HUMAN RIGHTS IN CLIMATE ACTION: REPORT FROM THE GLASGOW CLIMATE CONFERENCE (COP26) |date=February 2022 |url=https://www.ciel.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/2022_02_25_CIEL_Briefing-Note_Report-from-the-Glasgow-climate-conference.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{centerforinternationalenvironmentallaw2022promoting, author = {{Center for International Environmental Law}}, title = {{PROMOTING HUMAN RIGHTS IN CLIMATE ACTION: REPORT FROM THE GLASGOW CLIMATE CONFERENCE (COP26)}}, institution = {Center for International Environmental Law}, year = {2022}, month = feb, url = {https://www.ciel.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/2022_02_25_CIEL_Briefing-Note_Report-from-the-Glasgow-climate-conference.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }