Integrating Rights into the Paris Rule Book

For the environmental and social principles stated in the Paris Agreement to guide climate action effectively, governments must ensure that the guidelines for the implementation of the Agreement confirm the need to integrate climate action and existing human rights obligations, including the rights of indigenous peoples, public participation, the right to food, gender equality, a just transition, and ecosystems integrity. As such, these principles should be integrated systematically into all key elements of the Paris Rule Book, in particular on Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), Adaptation Communications, the Transparency Framework, and the Global Stocktake. These elements are interconnected and cyclical; thus, taking a holistic approach will ensure that the Paris Agreement is implemented effectively and in accordance with these principles.

Additionally, in all four elements, parties should ensure that there is effective and meaningful public participation.  This inclusive approach will help create a robust and rights-based Paris Rule Book with greater public ownership.

Relevant Submissions: 

Submission to the Ad Hoc Working Group on the Paris Agreement (APA) prior to COP22 by CARE, Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL), Franciscans International, the International Work Group for Indigenous Affairs (IWGIA), the International Movement ATD Fourth World, the Rainforest Foundation Norway, the Women’s Environment and Development Organization (WEDO), OCEANIA Human Rights, the Hawai’i Institute for Human Rights, ECOLISE, the Foundation for GAIA (GAIA), and the Planetary Association for Clean Energy (PACE) (2016)