Interactive Dialogue with the Special Rapporteur in the field of cultural rights

A joint statement by the Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) and Earthjustice submitted to the 55th Session of the Human Rights Council, supporting the Special Rapporteur's report on the right to participate in science and its application to climate action and geoengineering.

• The statement emphasizes that climate action must follow a human rights-based approach, meaning States must adhere to obligations regarding transparency, accountability, non-discrimination, and intergenerational equity. This approach dictates that only scientifically proven measures addressing root causes—specifically the phase-out of fossil fuels and the equitable scaling of renewable energies—should be implemented.
• The right to participate in science extends to anticipating harms from science, which is critical regarding geoengineering technologies. The statement notes that current research and testing of these unproven technologies often occur without providing affected communities with access to justice, information, or effective participation. It specifically highlights the need for the Free, Prior, and Informed Consent of Indigenous Peoples and the integration of their scientific knowledge with western methods.
• The statement warns against the distortion of scientific discourse by actors with vested interests, citing the fossil fuel industry's long-term efforts to manipulate public opinion to hinder climate action. It calls for States to actively combat disinformation and conflicts of interest.

APA

Center for International Environmental Law (2024). Interactive Dialogue with the Special Rapporteur in the field of cultural rights. https://www.ciel.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/HRC55-Statement-UNSR-Cultural-Rights-Report-Science.pdf

Chicago

Center for International Environmental Law. Interactive Dialogue with the Special Rapporteur in the field of cultural rights. 2024. https://www.ciel.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/HRC55-Statement-UNSR-Cultural-Rights-Report-Science.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite press release |author=Center for International Environmental Law |title=Interactive Dialogue with the Special Rapporteur in the field of cultural rights |date=7 March 2024 |url=https://www.ciel.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/HRC55-Statement-UNSR-Cultural-Rights-Report-Science.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@misc{centerforinternationalenvironmentallaw2024interactive, author = {{Center for International Environmental Law}}, title = {{Interactive Dialogue with the Special Rapporteur in the field of cultural rights}}, publisher = {Center for International Environmental Law}, year = {2024}, month = mar, url = {https://www.ciel.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/HRC55-Statement-UNSR-Cultural-Rights-Report-Science.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }