Briefing Note Series: Climate Governance and Human Rights

This briefing note summarizes and analyzes key developments at the 28th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP28) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in December 2023 related to the integration of human rights in climate policies. Through this narrow but important lens, the report focuses on civic space, the Global Stocktake and fossil fuels, the Loss and Damage Fund, carbon markets, and the Just Transition work programme.

The briefing note provides a short analysis of the outcomes of the 27th United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP27) in November 2022 in relation to agenda items with particular relevance to human rights, recognizing that this is a narrow but essential lens to look at the climate negotiations. It also discusses the backdrop of the negotiations, as these elements are important to remember when analyzing the outcomes.

This report summarizes key developments occurring during the 26th United Nations Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26) climate negotiations in November 2021 in Glasgow with regards to the integration of human rights in climate policies. The report provides a short analysis of the outcomes of COP26 in relation to agenda items with particular relevance to human rights, recognizing that this is a narrow but important lens to look at the climate negotiations. It also discusses the backdrop of the negotiations, as these elements are important to keep in mind when analyzing the outcomes. Lastly, the report provides an overview of upcoming opportunities for advocacy for the integration of human rights in the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) process in 2022.

The Global Stocktake (GST) is a process mandated by the international climate regime to assess collective progress towards achieving the objectives of the Paris Agreement in terms of mitigation, adaptation, and finance, and in the light of equity and best available science.

Every five years, the GST should review climate action in light of human rights. A holistic approach to the GST is critical to ensure not only the integration of climate action and human rights — and therefore the effective realization of all the goals of the Paris Agreement — but it will also help integrate climate action with other aspects of sustainable development, and promote international policy coherence.

This briefing provides detailed information about the 2022-2023 GST process, identifies opportunities to provide input, and offers guidance about how to contribute to the process through the submission of information addressing why considering human rights is essential to effective climate action.