UAE's Joint Statement on Climate Change and Human Rights
The UAE recently made a significant joint statement on behalf of 69 countries at the 56th session of the Human Rights Council in Geneva. This statement highlighted the negative effects of climate change on human rights, emphasizing the urgent need for collaborative and effective action. Mr. Khalifa Al Mazrouei, an advisor at the UAE Mission in Geneva, stressed that climate change profoundly impacts all economic sectors, particularly affecting vulnerable individuals dependent on agriculture and fishing. The statement urged the international community to prioritize enabling those affected to withstand and address climate-related challenges effectively.
The statement also called for member states to ensure the respect and protection of human rights in the design, implementation, and promotion of climate policies and programs. It emphasized that climate justice is closely linked to development and that building resilience to climate change is essential to achieving sustainable development goals.
The UAE's statement praised the historic decision taken during the 27th session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change to establish the Loss and Damage Fund. Additionally, it welcomed the success of the UAE's presidency of the 28th session of the conference (COP28), which secured pledges exceeding 600 million US dollars to support this fund.
Legal Recognition of Nature's Rights Across the World
In parallel to the UAE's call for addressing climate change impacts, more than 35 countries globally, including several in Latin America, have recognized the Rights of Nature in their legal systems. This means that nature, such as ecosystems and species, has specific rights to exist, thrive, and regenerate. The recognition of these rights marks a paradigm shift from an anthropocentric to an ecocentric perspective, where natural entities are seen as subjects of legal protection.
Ecuador was the first country to recognize the Rights of Nature in its Constitution in 2008. Following Ecuador's lead, other countries like Bolivia, Panama, and Peru have enacted laws and judicial rulings to protect these rights. For instance, Panama recognized the inherent rights of sea turtles and their habitats in 2023, while Peru's Superior Court of Loreto recognized the rights of the Maraño River, acknowledging it as a living being.
The recognition of nature's rights is gaining momentum, with various regions and municipalities, such as the State of Mexico and the Brazilian state of Espírito Santo, enacting laws to protect natural entities. These legal instruments aim to ensure the sustainability and protection of ecosystems, aligning with the global efforts to combat climate change and its adverse effects on human rights.
