Crucial Role of Environmental Defenders in Ensuring a Safe Climate | Geneva Rights and Climate Talks

The former UN Special Rapporteur on human rights and the environment, David Boyd, presented his report on a safe climate (A/74/161) to the UNGA in 2019, in which he concluded that a safe climate is absolutely essential to human life and well-being as well as it is a vital element of the right to a healthy environment.

At this 56th session, the new UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights and Climate Change, Elisa Morgera, will present her first assessment of the situation. Over the last years, access to information and scientific knowledge, participation and mobilisation in climate action have emerged as crucial to ensuring a safe climate.

It is therefore important to see how the commitments that emerge from different publics contributes effectively to climate action, and how these commitments need to be promoted and protected. In this respect, Michel Forst, the UN Special Rapporteur on Environmental Defenders of the Aarhus Convention, which is holding its 28th Working Group of the Parties this week, has had the opportunity to intervene in several ways with States in this regard.

This event provides an opportunity for the two UN Special Rapporteurs to exchange experiences and perspectives.

More information: tiny.cc/GRCT24EHRDs