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

The report analyzes COP27 outcomes through a human rights lens, highlighting the breakthrough establishment of a Loss and Damage Fund and the first consensus-based mention of the right to a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment. However, it criticizes the failure to commit to a fossil fuel phase-out, the influence of fossil fuel lobbyists, and the 'unprecedented' restrictions on civil society participation imposed by the host country, Egypt. The document also notes missed opportunities in the Action Plan on Action for Climate Empowerment and the Gender Action Plan review, while calling for a rights-based approach to the Global Stocktake and Article 6.4 carbon market mechanisms.

• COP27 was marked by severe restrictions on civil society and climate activists, with representatives facing harassment and surveillance by Egyptian officials, which the report describes as reaching 'unprecedented levels'.
• A significant achievement of COP27 was the agreement to establish a Loss and Damage Fund to provide financial resources to developing countries particularly vulnerable to climate change, though the report emphasizes that its operationalization must be rooted in human rights and needs-based finance.

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} }