Introduction to climate and human rights

Instructions

Introductory reflection (5 minutes)

• The facilitator asks: How does climate change affects us?
• Brief sharing of thoughts in the entire group

Silent discussion (10 minutes)

• The participants are divided into groups. The following questions are distributed: How can climate change threaten human rights? Which rights are under threat and in what way?
• The participants must write and/or draw their answers on a large, shared sheet of paper without talking together. This silence will lead to deeper reflection. If there are too many participants in each group, divide into even smaller groups. When the groups have finished, the participants can circulate and read what the others have done. They are then encouraged to write or draw with a pen on the others’ sheets of paper if they have something to add. When everyone has seen and commented on everybody’s sheets of paper the silence is broken and everybody sums up together. Read more about silent discussion as a teaching method.
• After the reflection the facilitator shows a presentation of the most important human rights threatened by climate change. After the presentation, the following questions can be asked:

Reflection

• How important are these human rights in your life?
• Are there groups in society that are particularly vulnerable to climate change? Why?
• Who has the responsibility for protecting and realising human rights?
• Do companies have a responsibility?

Debriefing

Climate change threatens a number of fundamental human rights. Without taking quick action, the consequences may be even more serious. Particularly vulnerable groups will be impacted, such as children and young people, persons with reduced functional ability, indigenous peoples, the elderly and people who are economically vulnerable.

To combat climate change, international collaboration and solidarity are necessary. It is also important to consider climate change in a human rights perspective as human rights can contribute to a better and more fair climate policy, internationally and nationally, and ensure solutions that are sustainable and fair for all. (UN High Commissioner for Human Rights)

The Norwegian Human Rights Institute has prepared a report that illuminates the relationship between climate change and human rights. According to the report, there are particularly three main areas where human rights oblige states to take action:

• The states must reduce climate gas emissions to prevent climate change.
• The states must limit the damage from climate change that cannot be avoided and potentially protect people forcibly displaced by climate changes.
• The states must take human rights into consideration when assessing whether climate measures are proportionally fair and necessary.

Even though the authorities have the legal responsibility for upholding human rights, individuals, associations and groups play important roles. Our actions and commitment can contribute to limiting global warming, thus reducing the threat to human rights.

An alternative approach:

• Divide the participants into groups of four or five. Each group is given the following task: Choose a species of tree you like (apple, fir, palm etc.), and then draw this tree on a large sheet of paper (5-10 minutes).
• Then the participants are issued notes listing various human rights. They then glue the various human rights on the branches of the tree. Below that they write down how they think climate change will affect the environment so that it detrimentally affects the fulfilment of human rights. They may include local examples and news items. An alternative is to give each group one right each.

Resources:

UN fact sheet NO 38