National Human Rights Commission of Korea Holds International Conference on the Climate Change and Human Rights
Call for international cooperation to address human rights violations and inequalities caused by the climate crisis
□ On October 15, 2024, the National Human Rights Commission of Korea (Chairperson Ahn Chang-ho, hereinafter ‘NHRCK’) held the International Conference on the Climate Change and Human Rights in collaboration with the Asia-Pacific Forum of National Human Rights Institutions (APF), Delegation of the European Union to the Republic of Korea, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), and the Representation of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in the Republic of Korea at the International Conference Hall on the 20th floor of the Korea Press Center.
□ The theme of the conference was “The Climate Change and Human Rights: Ensuring Justice and Action for All,” and the participants discussed in-depth the impact of climate change on human rights and called for joint efforts and solidarity among the international community, governments, businesses, and civil society to overcome the climate crisis.
□ In his opening remarks, Chairperson Ahn Chang-ho emphasized that “climate change is not just an environmental issue, but a serious human rights issue, and the international community, governments, businesses, and civil society must work together to respond to the climate crisis and protect the human rights of people, especially the vulnerable.”
□ Elisa Morgera, UN Special Rapporteur on climate change and human rights, and Olof Skoog, EU Special Representative for Human Rights, delivered keynote presentations highlighting the role of UN human rights mechanisms in addressing climate change and human rights, the importance of information sharing and the need for international cooperation.
□ The conference, which was organized into three sessions, covered the following topics.
△ [Session 1] Global Trends and Efforts on Climate Change and Human Rights
- Dr. Cho Cheon-ho, former Director General of National Institute of Meteorological Sciences of Korea, warned of the seriousness of climate change, and Ms. Christine Adam, Director of the Legal Affairs Division of UNFCCC, introduced the role of UNFCCC and the efforts of the international community. Attorney Yujung Shin emphasized the importance of corporate human rights responsibilities and climate change response.
△ [Session 2] Voices of Vulnerable Groups in the Climate Crisis
- Youth climate activist Hyeonjeong Yoon emphasized the importance of responding to climate change from the perspective of future generations, and Bosco Okot Opira, a climate activist from South Sudan, vividly conveyed the difficulties faced by refugees due to climate change. Tower crane operator Kim Kyung-shin and farmer Kim Jeongyeol testified the impacts of climate change on the lives of workers and farmers, including heat waves and droughts, respectively. Lia Mai Torres, an environmental activist from the Philippines, shared the threats and challenges faced by environmental activists.
△ [Session 3] Joint Efforts for a Sustainable Future
- Jungsub Yeom, Director of the Climate Change Strategy Division at the Ministry of Environment, explained Korea's carbon neutrality policy, and Jorg Weberndorfer, Minister Counsellor at the EU Delegation to the Republic of Korea, introduced policies to secure corporate responsibility on climate issues. Michaela Ujhazyova, Head of the Research & Data Analysis Unit at the Slovak National Center for Human Rights, presented the work of the Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions (GANHRI) on climate change and the role of national human rights institutions on climate change and human rights issues, and Jae Kak Han, Executive Committee Member of the Climate Justice Alliance, spoke about the importance of climate justice.
□ Through this conference, NHRCK plans to strengthen joint efforts to prevent human rights violations caused by climate change and to address inequalities.
