Promoting Human Rights in Climate Action: Report from the Sharm el-Sheikh climate conference (COP27)

This briefing note by the Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) analyzes the outcomes of the COP27 climate conference in Sharm el-Sheikh, focusing on the integration of human rights into climate policies. It highlights a major breakthrough in loss and damage finance while criticizing the failure to address fossil fuel phase-out and the restrictions placed on civil society by the host country.

• COP27 was marked by unprecedented restrictions and harassment of civil society representatives and climate activists by Egyptian officials, creating significant barriers to safe public participation.
• A significant achievement at COP27 was the agreement to establish a Loss and Damage Fund to provide financial resources to developing countries particularly vulnerable to climate change.
• The Santiago Network (SNLD), the technical arm of the Warsaw International Mechanism, was operationalized with an Advisory Board that includes representatives from youth, children, Indigenous Peoples organizations, and the Women and Gender Constituency.
• Parties failed to commit to a full phase-out of fossil fuels, instead reiterating weak language from Glasgow regarding the phasing down of unabated coal and inefficient fossil fuel subsidies, which may allow for loopholes via Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS).
• The COP27 cover decision, the Sharm el-Sheikh Implementation Plan, is the first UN document adopted by consensus to mention the human right to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment.
• The Action Plan on Action for Climate Empowerment (ACE) was criticized for being a missed opportunity to integrate rights-based activities, as some Parties opposed references to human rights, resulting in only one output that mandates the Secretariat to identify good practices for integrating ACE elements into national policies.
• The Article 6.4 Supervisory Body's recommendations on removals were rejected by the CMA after they were found to be problematic and potentially undermining the rights of local communities and Indigenous Peoples.
• A Just Transition Work Programme was established to promote equitable and rights-based policies, including social protection and the participation of all stakeholders.

APA

Center for International Environmental Law (2023). Promoting Human Rights in Climate Action: Report from the Sharm el-Sheikh climate conference (COP27). https://www.ciel.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/CIEL_Briefing-Note_Report-from-the-Sharm-el-Sheikh-climate-conference_May-2023.pdf

Chicago

Center for International Environmental Law. Promoting Human Rights in Climate Action: Report from the Sharm el-Sheikh climate conference (COP27). 2023. https://www.ciel.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/CIEL_Briefing-Note_Report-from-the-Sharm-el-Sheikh-climate-conference_May-2023.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Center for International Environmental Law |title=Promoting Human Rights in Climate Action: Report from the Sharm el-Sheikh climate conference (COP27) |date=2023 |url=https://www.ciel.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/CIEL_Briefing-Note_Report-from-the-Sharm-el-Sheikh-climate-conference_May-2023.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{centerforinternationalenvironmentallaw2023promoting, author = {{Center for International Environmental Law}}, title = {{Promoting Human Rights in Climate Action: Report from the Sharm el-Sheikh climate conference (COP27)}}, institution = {Center for International Environmental Law}, year = {2023}, url = {https://www.ciel.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/CIEL_Briefing-Note_Report-from-the-Sharm-el-Sheikh-climate-conference_May-2023.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }