Human Rights Obligations in the Context of Climate Change

This briefing note by the Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) and the Global Initiative for Economic, Social & Cultural Rights (GIESCR) reviews the 2023 activities of the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (CESCR) regarding climate change. It details the Committee's focus on mitigation policies, adaptation strategies, and the transition away from fossil fuels across various State parties' Concluding Observations (COBs) and Lists of Issues (LOIs).

• In 2023, the CESCR integrated climate change into the majority of its work, referencing the issue in twelve Concluding Observations (COBs) and seven of its eleven Lists of Issues (LOIs). The Committee focused heavily on mitigation policies in seventeen outputs, emphasizing commitments under the Paris Agreement. Specifically, the CESCR found that Brazil, Panama, and Portugal were not on track to meet their nationally determined contributions (NDCs).
• The Committee addressed climate adaptation in nineteen statements, frequently referencing national adaptation plans (NAPs). It requested that Yemen, Palestine, and Cambodia develop NAPs. For Portugal, the Committee recommended specific land management techniques for fire prevention, including afforestation, reforestation, and agroforestry, as well as the adoption of food systems that protect the environment and the rights of farmers and migrant farmworkers.
• The CESCR emphasized the necessity of including marginalized groups and Indigenous Peoples in climate adaptation. In Panama, the Committee called for the effective consultation and full participation of Indigenous Peoples in policy design. For Brazil and Cambodia, the Committee highlighted the importance of obtaining free, prior, and informed consent regarding decisions affecting indigenous communities.
• The Committee addressed fossil fuel reliance in six outputs. It expressed concern over Qatar's heavy economic reliance on natural gas and oil and its plans to increase liquefied natural gas production and trade. It urged China to replace fossil fuels in its energy mix with renewables and to suspend permissions and financing for coal-fired power plants both domestically and abroad, noting that China's unsustainable practices have had adverse impacts beyond its borders.
• The CESCR continued developing a General Comment on Sustainable Development and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, which included a Day of General Discussion in February 2023 to inform the drafting process.

APA

Center for International Environmental Law (2023). Human Rights Obligations in the Context of Climate Change. https://www.ciel.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/HRTB-Synthesis-Note-2024_CIEL_GIESCR_Committee-on-Economic-Social-and-Cultural-Rights-CESCR.pdf

Chicago

Center for International Environmental Law. Human Rights Obligations in the Context of Climate Change. 2023. https://www.ciel.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/HRTB-Synthesis-Note-2024_CIEL_GIESCR_Committee-on-Economic-Social-and-Cultural-Rights-CESCR.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Center for International Environmental Law |title=Human Rights Obligations in the Context of Climate Change |date=2023 |url=https://www.ciel.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/HRTB-Synthesis-Note-2024_CIEL_GIESCR_Committee-on-Economic-Social-and-Cultural-Rights-CESCR.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{centerforinternationalenvironmentallaw2023human, author = {{Center for International Environmental Law}}, title = {{Human Rights Obligations in the Context of Climate Change}}, institution = {Center for International Environmental Law}, year = {2023}, url = {https://www.ciel.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/HRTB-Synthesis-Note-2024_CIEL_GIESCR_Committee-on-Economic-Social-and-Cultural-Rights-CESCR.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }