Human rights in climate actions

This paper presents the findings from an analysis of 194 State climate action plans from a human rights perspective.

The current climate collapse negatively impacts people’s rights to life, an adequate standard of living, housing, food, health, water and sanitation, and many other human rights. Mitigation and adaptation measures can also have negative human rights implications when they are not human rights compliant.

States have binding human rights obligations under international law, and judicial developments across the globe increasingly illuminate the consequences of climate-related human rights violations.

The Danish Institute for Human Rights analysed 167 Nationally Determined Contributions to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and 27 EU National Energy and Climate Plans. We looked for signs of alignment with human rights in general and with the principles of equality and non-discrimination and participation.

This analysis comes in the lead up to the global stock-take at COP 28 and the entry into force of the Enhanced Transparency Framework in 2024.