ECO loves to be pleasantly surprised. So yesterday was a winner. As discussions started on Article 6.2, we were pleasantly surprised to hear so much seeming support for the inclusion of human rights language in the text! It was great to hear so many Parties including AILAC, EIG, LDCs, LMDC, the EU, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Mexico, Antigua & Barbuda, Ecuador … all voice their support (and if we forgot anyone, apologies, and we hope you all join).
But the devil is in the details and those details are important. ECO stands ready to provide any help we can give to Parties to ensure the protection of human rights and the rights of Indigenous Peoples.
We have some immediate suggestions for how to strengthen the language for human rights safeguards in the context of article 6.4. You can do this by including it in activity design and ensuring that consultation with local holders is in line with rights such as Indigenous Peoples’ right to free, prior and informed consent. These elements are critical to help prevent potential harms. Oh, and make the grievance mechanism – which communities can access to seek remedy if they are harmed – independent. That’s a big human rights point that can’t be forgotten!
ECO also supports the calls for human rights and the rights of Indigenous Peoples to be protected and included across all three parts of Article 6 (6.2, 6.4, and 6.8)! Rights should be protected in all climate action, whether under a market or non-market approach.
ECO is encouraged by this convergence and believes we can work together to deliver and ensure rights in Article 6, because that’s the only option!