It is early June; time for the SBs. While the weather is a bit weird (could it be climate change?), the usual tactics and games unfold: calls for urgency, last-minute agenda fights, reinterpretations of agenda items just agreed a couple of months ago…
The clear and unchanging message ECO wants to convey this time is: there is no climate justice (in NDCs) without human rights (in NDCs).
ECO made a little detour via Strasbourg on the way to Bonn where the European Court of Human Rights found Switzerland in violation of its human rights obligations for failing to implement sufficient measures to combat climate change. If the floods in Kenya, Brazil and other countries and the heatwave in South and Southeast Asia (just to name a few) weren’t enough to convince Parties that their enhanced NDCs should be in line with the objective to limit warming to 1.5°C, maybe this verdict will help.
This powerful judgment should be reflected upon by all Parties – it is the perfect opportunity to step up national climate action. ECO also eagerly awaits a strong advisory opinion from the International Court of Justice that reinforces the understanding that protection against climate change impacts is a human right obligation, and that Parties’ legal obligations related to climate change go well beyond the conference halls of the UNFCCC.
As we all know, NDCs are the centerpiece of the ambition cycle and must drive enhanced action and ambition at the national level, firmly grounded on the GST outcomes. They are key instruments to anchor climate action and fulfill climate-related human rights duties.
An NDC in line with human rights obligations starts with 1.5°C alignment, which in turn needs a full phase out of all fossil fuels (please, without offsets). It must also address those other massive 2030 gaps – adaptation and finance ambition – and should drive inclusive and rights-based climate action. And we want to highlight the obvious: developed countries must to do more according to their respective responsibilities and capabilities. And finally, a strong NCQG is critical to unlock the full potential of NDCs.
And what’s this full potential, you ask? It means ambitious targets underpinned by concrete policies and plans. ECO asks Parties respond to sectoral global goals defined in the GST decision, including by detailing strategies for the phase out of fossil fuels, according to local circumstances. And don’t be mistaken, the deployment of renewables must be carried out under high standards and social-environmental safeguards, and with respect for human rights including Indigenous Peoples’ right to Free, Prior and Informed Consent. Integrating human rights into NDCs is not only a moral and legal imperative but also a crucial step towards achieving sustainable and equitable climate action.
ECO looks forward to the next batch of NDCs, informed by the IPCC, the GST and respect for human rights – that’s the way to do a much better job!