Side Event at COP21. Climate Change: One of the Greatest Human Rights Challenges of Our Time

These impacts — as well as responses taken to address them — threaten internationally recognized human rights. In light of these threats, the Paris Agreement must take steps to address these harms. This side event at the United Nations conference on climate change COP21 thus lended support to the core human rights language in the operative text of the agreement.  High-level state, UN and civil society representatives provided a unique perspective on why human rights protections are critically needed as part of the climate change agreement.