Integrating Human Rights in Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs)

This toolkit, developed by the Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) and the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), provides a framework for States and stakeholders to integrate human rights obligations into the planning, content, and implementation of Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) under the Paris Agreement.

• The toolkit argues that States have a human rights obligation to limit global warming to the greatest extent possible, asserting that the 1.5°C target is better aligned with these commitments than higher targets. It notes that current warming levels are already inconsistent with obligations to respect, protect, and fulfill human rights.
• To align NDCs with human rights obligations, States should address all sources of emissions under their jurisdiction or control, including public and private sources and extraterritorial emissions resulting from the export of fossil fuels or business conduct abroad.
• The document emphasizes that meaningful public participation is a human right and a critical component of effective climate policy. It recommends that participation occur at the earliest stages of NDC planning and include specific measures to ensure the involvement of marginalized groups, such as Indigenous Peoples, women, and persons with disabilities.
• The toolkit identifies a gap in current NDC practices: while the number of States explicitly referencing human rights in NDCs increased from 24 in initial INDCs to 60 in updated NDCs, most provide little detail on how human rights informed the planning or should guide implementation.
• Mainstreaming gender equality in NDCs requires moving beyond general statements to include gender-responsive climate finance, mandatory gender budgeting, and the collection of sex-disaggregated data to understand differentiated impacts on women and girls.
• For Indigenous Peoples, the toolkit mandates the application of Free, Prior, and Informed Consent (FPIC) for any project affecting their territories and the integration of traditional knowledge into mitigation and adaptation policies.
• The document links land tenure and natural resource governance to climate mitigation, stating that securing community land rights and Indigenous forestlands tenure are cost-effective policies for reducing emissions from deforestation and ecosystem degradation.
• A 'just transition' in the context of NDCs requires the protection of labor rights, the use of tripartite social dialogue involving governments, employers, and workers, and the provision of retraining and social protection for workers in declining industries.

APA

Center for International Environmental Law (2022). Integrating Human Rights in Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs). https://www.ciel.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/NDC-Toolkit-Feb-2025-EN.pdf

Chicago

Center for International Environmental Law. Integrating Human Rights in Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs). 2022. https://www.ciel.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/NDC-Toolkit-Feb-2025-EN.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Center for International Environmental Law |title=Integrating Human Rights in Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) |date=November 2022 |url=https://www.ciel.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/NDC-Toolkit-Feb-2025-EN.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{centerforinternationalenvironmentallaw2022integrating, author = {{Center for International Environmental Law}}, title = {{Integrating Human Rights in Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs)}}, institution = {Center for International Environmental Law}, year = {2022}, month = nov, url = {https://www.ciel.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/NDC-Toolkit-Feb-2025-EN.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }