Dhaka – The entry of the Paris Climate Change Agreement into force from Friday should spur states to be more ambitious in their commitment to tackling global warming, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein said on Thursday.
“I urge all the parties that will be at the COP22 in Marrakech to ensure that the meeting is about states taking action in accordance with their international human right obligations,” the High Commissioner said, adding that the world cannot wait. A year ago, the world celebrated the passage of the first universal, binding agreement to mitigate climate change, but there is a clear
disconnect between the Paris Agreement’s stated ambition to limit warming to less than two degrees and the commitments countries have made. “That gap must be closed,” Zeid said.
The UN HR boss said climate change is a threat to all and to future generations, and to the enjoyment of human rights now and in the years ahead, according to a message received here from Geneva.
A continually warming world will be a graveyard for entire ecosystems, entire peoples – and potentially even entire nations, the High Commissioner said.
“That each of the last three years has been the hottest on record shows why it is imperative to focus on implementing the Paris deal and to ensure that the commitments states made to respect and promote human rights in climate action are acted upon and deepened,” Zeid stressed.
The Conference of Parties (COP22), due to take place in Marrakech from November 7-18, is so important, Zeid said.
“States need to take urgent action at COP22 to make sure that the measures detailed in the Paris Agreement are carried out. This will require adequate financing, sharing of technology and
capacity-building.
States also have an obligation to work individually and collectively to foster an environment for the enjoyment of all human rights by all. For this, they need to show more ambition and more willingness to cooperate internationally.”
The Paris Agreement establishes a framework to measure, review and verify states’ commitments, and calls for cooperation to enhance climate change education, training, public awareness and participation, as well as people’s access to information.
“This framework needs to be transparent and to integrate human rights considerations within its reporting guidelines. Accountability for action – or inaction – is essential,” Zeid said. – UNB
