GENEVA - UN Special Rapporteur John H. Knox on Friday urged states to take safeguards of human rights into account when government representatives meet to negotiate the terms of a new international climate mechanism in Bonn from May 16 to 26.
In a letter to Paris Convention's Subsidiary Body for Scientific and Technological Advice (SBSTTA), Knox said the climate mechanism would be the first test of states' commitment to the principles of the Paris Agreement drawn up in December 2015 and open for signature on Earth Day, April 22.
The Special Rapporteur on human rights and the environment recalled that the Paris Agreement was the first environmental treaty to include a strong commitment to protect human rights when addressing climate change.
"The fact that 177 states have signed the Paris Agreement in less than a month is very welcome news, but the hard work of safeguarding the environment and human rights is just now beginning," he said.
He called for the adoption of specific safeguards, such as prior assessments, provisions for public participation, and effective grievance procedures, that would help ensure that proposed projects do not run roughshod over the human rights of indigenous peoples and other communities that are most directly affected by them.
"The urgency of addressing climate change does not justify violating the rights of those who live and work near the projects, " he emphasized.
"Safeguards are necessary, not only to protect human rights, but also to avoid abuses that can derail projects and harm the very people the projects are supposed to help," he concluded. (Xinhua)