Annual Panel Discussion on the Adverse Impact of Climate Change on Human Rights

In a statement to the Human Rights Council on 1 July 2024, the Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) and Earthjustice argue that the right to remedy and reparations for climate harm is being denied to the most vulnerable populations. They criticize the reliance on voluntary contributions for the UNFCCC's Loss and Damage Fund and call for human rights standards to inform its operationalization, while awaiting legal clarification on State obligations from the International Court of Justice and the Inter-American Court of Human Rights.

• The Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) and Earthjustice assert that climate change creates an unprecedented threat to human rights, particularly for populations made vulnerable by historic marginalization. They argue that while international human rights law entitles victims of violations to effective remedies and reparations—both domestically and extraterritorially—communities most affected by the climate crisis are currently denied this right.
• The authors critique the current approach to the UNFCCC's Loss and Damage Fund, noting a preference for voluntary contributions and a reluctance to provide funding at scale, which they claim historically underdelivers in climate finance. They state that the largest cumulative emitters have attempted to dilute and evade their legal obligations regarding the right to remedy for climate harm.
• CIEL and Earthjustice emphasize that human rights standards must guide the operationalization of the Loss and Damage Fund to ensure effectiveness and inclusivity. They highlight the importance of upcoming advisory opinions from the International Court of Justice and the Inter-American Court of Human Rights to clarify State obligations and the duty to provide climate reparations.

APA

Center for International Environmental Law (2024). Annual Panel Discussion on the Adverse Impact of Climate Change on Human Rights. https://www.ciel.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/CIEL-intervention-HRC56_CIEL-and-EJ_LD_July-2024.pdf

Chicago

Center for International Environmental Law. Annual Panel Discussion on the Adverse Impact of Climate Change on Human Rights. 2024. https://www.ciel.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/CIEL-intervention-HRC56_CIEL-and-EJ_LD_July-2024.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite press release |author=Center for International Environmental Law |title=Annual Panel Discussion on the Adverse Impact of Climate Change on Human Rights |date=1 July 2024 |url=https://www.ciel.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/CIEL-intervention-HRC56_CIEL-and-EJ_LD_July-2024.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@misc{centerforinternationalenvironmentallaw2024annual, author = {{Center for International Environmental Law}}, title = {{Annual Panel Discussion on the Adverse Impact of Climate Change on Human Rights}}, publisher = {Center for International Environmental Law}, year = {2024}, month = jul, url = {https://www.ciel.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/CIEL-intervention-HRC56_CIEL-and-EJ_LD_July-2024.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }