BD led resolution on climate change adopted in Human Rights Council

The United Nations adopted Bangladesh led resolution on climate change adopted in Human Rights Council session, which focuses climate finance and its implementation.

The resolution styled "Human Rights and Climate Change" was adopted by consensus in the 59th HRC session held in Geneva on Wednesday (8 July).

“Millions of people, particularly from the developing countries are bearing the severe brunt of cascading impacts caused by climate change and their right to life, right to health, right to housing, right to social security and right to development among other rights are seriously compromised,” stated Tareq Md. Ariful Islam, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Bangladesh, during adoption of the resolution.

Bangladesh, on behalf of the core group, consisting of Bangladesh, Philippines and Vietnam, led the negotiation of the resolution as the pen holder, reads a press release of the Bangladesh mission in Geneva.

In his remarks, Ambassador Tareq also pointed out that the resolution reflects the existing significant gaps between the growing need and available funds for urgent global climate action.

The focus of this resolution has been climate finance and its implementation. The resolution sheds light on the loopholes of existing mechanisms of global climate funds and proposes possible way forward.

Particularly, it advocates for simplifying procedures to access various climate funds by developing countries.

Most importantly, it appeals to Member States and international community, with developed countries taking the lead, to embark on actionable pathways to provide new, additional, quality, predictable, flexible, and grants-based climate funding as well as provide technology transfer and capacity building support to the developing countries, including dedicated relief for debt-stressed countries.

For the first time, the resolution captures the issue of appropriate remedies and compensation to address harm and associated human rights violations caused by climate change.

Bangladesh delegation’s role as the pen-holder in steering the negotiations was widely appreciated by Member States during the adoption. This is yet another recognition of Bangladesh’s leadership in climate diplomacy.

This annual resolution has requested the United Nations Secretary General to submit a synthesis report on actionable pathways in mobilizing sufficient climate financing and associated challenges and barriers in the pursuit of the full realization of human rights for all people at the 63rd session of the HRC.