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Raising the Bar through Climate Change Litigation
Monday November 25, 2024 4:40pm - 6:00pm CET
Room XIX
Session co-organized by the Working Group on business and human rights and the Office for the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR)

Interpretation available in English, French and Spanish

(Version française ci-jointe)
(Versión en español adjunta)

Brief description of the session: 
The use of litigation to achieve progress on climate change and human rights has nearly tripled since the Paris Agreement was reached in 2015. More recently, in 2022 the United Nations General Assembly adopted Resolution 76/300, recognising “the right to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment as a human right”. This recognition followed the UN Human Rights Council resolution 48/13 which acknowledged the right in October 2021. As activists and civil society organizations are increasingly seeking to hold States and businesses accountable for their role in contributing to the multiple planetary crises and related harm to human rights, including those of future generations, climate litigation is being used as a tool to influence policy outcomes or change corporate behaviour. Climate litigation has shown its potential to lead to a smart mix of measures to address climate change and uphold human rights by strengthening regulation, incentives, policies, corporate practices, and benchmarking. This has in turn led to an increased emphasis on the role of businesses, including their need to conduct human rights due diligence with environmental dimensions. While some emerging multistakeholder initiatives are trying to tackle these issues, the question remains of how States and businesses can better collaborate with civil society organizations and other stakeholders to raise awareness and increase implementation of human rights-respecting frameworks in the context of climate change.      

Key objectives of the session: 
  • Provide an overview of climate change and human rights litigation globally and regionally. 
  • Set out the case and evidence for putting climate change and human rights into the boardroom, through the lens of a human rights-based economy.  
  • Highlight opportunities and benefits for States and businesses to accelerate their actions on climate change and human rights, by addressing commonly perceived barriers.  
  • Discuss tangible steps on how different stakeholder groups and rightsholders can move forward to ensure the effective promotion and protection of human rights in the context of climate change, including implementation.  
 
Additional background documents: 

Moderators
avatar for Adam Weiss

Adam Weiss

Director of Programmes, Europe, ClientEarth
I work for ClientEarth, the environmental law charity. We use the power of the law to change the system – informing, implementing and enforcing the law, advising decision-makers on policy and training legal and judicial professionals.
Speakers
avatar for Stephanie Collins

Stephanie Collins

Senior Associate, Gibson Dunn
Stephanie Collins is an English law qualified solicitor advocate and associate in the London office of Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher. She is a member of the firm’s International Arbitration Group.Stephanie represents clients in both commercial and investment treaty arbitrations, as well... Read More →
avatar for Jovina Muchunguzi

Jovina Muchunguzi

Business and Human Rights Coordinator, Commission for Human Rights and Good Governance
Principal investigation Officer with 15 years of experience in human rights at the Commission for Human Rights and Good Governance (CHRAGG).CHRAGG’s Focal Point on Business & Human Rights and Environmental ProtectionAn experienced business and human rights practitioner, specialized... Read More →
avatar for Maria Jose Alzari

Maria Jose Alzari

Coordinadora del área de transparencia, Argentine Business Council for Sustainable Development
Abogada (UBA). Especializada en Derecho ambiental y en los diferentes aspectos del derecho de la sustentabilidad. Experta en “Derechos Humanos y Empresa”. Coordinadora del Área de Transparencia y Licencia Social del CEADS (Consejo Empresario Argentino para el Desarrollo Sostenible... Read More →
avatar for Ariff Amir Ali

Ariff Amir Ali

Member of Young People' Action Team, UNICEF East Asia Pacific Regional Office
Ariff is a passionate advocate for climate action and youth empowerment. He serves as the Advocacy Director for Youth United for Earth (YUFE), leading YUFE’s agenda for climate justice, organizing workshops, engaging young people across the ASEAN region, and promoting human-centred... Read More →
CONCEPT NOTE Climate Change FINAL fr pdf
CONCEPT NOTE Climate Change FINAL es pdf
Monday November 25, 2024 4:40pm - 6:00pm CET
Room XIX
  Parallel sessions, Webcasted

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