HUMAN RIGHTS IN 2025 NDCS: WHAT TO LOOK OUT FOR?

The document argues that NDCs must be guided by human rights obligations to be both legally compliant and more effective. It provides a comprehensive checklist for evaluating NDCs across nine key areas, including mitigation ambition, participatory planning, gender justice, and the rights of Indigenous Peoples. The guide emphasizes that NDCs should include an urgent phase-out of fossil fuels, avoid reliance on carbon offsets or technological 'false solutions' like CCS, and ensure a just transition that protects labor rights and prevents mining-related human rights violations.

• NDCs should be based on human rights obligations, principles, and standards because all Parties to the Paris Agreement have legally binding human rights obligations and human rights-based climate action is more effective, as confirmed by the IPCC.
• To align with climate objectives and human rights, NDCs should set emission reduction goals consistent with limiting warming to 1.5°C, include consumption emissions, and commit to an urgent and equitable phase-out of fossil fuel production and use.
• The guide advises against the use of carbon offsets and technological 'false solutions' such as Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) and Carbon Dioxide Removal (CDR) in NDCs.
• NDCs must ensure inclusive and participatory planning and implementation, specifically involving Indigenous Peoples, traditional knowledge holders, and vulnerable groups such as women, youth, children, persons with disabilities, peasants, people in poverty, and migrants.
• A human rights-aligned NDC should include explicit commitments to the right to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment, the rights of future generations, and the protection of Environmental Human Rights Defenders.
• Regarding Indigenous Peoples, NDCs should respect the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP), ensure Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC), and recognize robust tenure and natural resource rights.
• A just transition within an NDC requires the protection of core labor rights, the creation of decent work, and policies to ensure the climate transition does not cause mining-related human rights violations.
• Effective implementation of NDCs requires debt-free international climate finance for mitigation, adaptation, and loss and damage, as well as a plan for inclusive monitoring using disaggregated data by gender, age, and disability.

APA

Center for International Environmental Law (n.d.). HUMAN RIGHTS IN 2025 NDCS: WHAT TO LOOK OUT FOR? https://www.ciel.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/NDC-Checklist-1.pdf

Chicago

Center for International Environmental Law. HUMAN RIGHTS IN 2025 NDCS: WHAT TO LOOK OUT FOR? n.d. https://www.ciel.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/NDC-Checklist-1.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Center for International Environmental Law |title=HUMAN RIGHTS IN 2025 NDCS: WHAT TO LOOK OUT FOR? |url=https://www.ciel.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/NDC-Checklist-1.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{centerforinternationalenvironmentallawndhuman, author = {{Center for International Environmental Law}}, title = {{HUMAN RIGHTS IN 2025 NDCS: WHAT TO LOOK OUT FOR?}}, institution = {Center for International Environmental Law}, url = {https://www.ciel.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/NDC-Checklist-1.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }