United Nations Special Rapporteur on Climate Change & Human Rights, Elisa Morgera, has issued two new calls for input for her two upcoming studies – “fossil fuel-based economy” and “renewables and critical minerals”.
The Special Rapporteur has requested the International Indian Treaty Council (IITC) assist in the dissemination of these calls to encourage wide participation by Indigenous Peoples. The IITC affirms that the rights of Indigenous Peoples around the world continue to be seriously impacted by the issues to be addressed in these studies.
At the recently concluded UNFCCC COP29 in Baku, Azerbaijan, for example, IITC witnessed the sincere interest of the Special Rapporteur in receiving information from Indigenous Peoples. Ms. Morgera was particularly interested in the many ways that our rights and ways of life are being impacted by the causes, effects, and false solutions to climate change. IITC encourages Indigenous Peoples to participate in these studies so that our voices and lived experiences can be taken into account.
The call for inputs on the fossil fuel-based economy aims to advance understanding on how to respect, protect and fulfil all human rights, as well as prevent harm and ensure non-discrimination, in the context of a just transition away from fossil fuels and the phase out of fossil fuel subsidies. The key questions and types of input/comments sought for this report, fossil fuel-based economy, are available at her website in English, French, and Spanish. This study will inform the Special Rapporteur’s thematic report to the Human Rights Council’s 59th session.
The call for inputs on renewables and critical minerals seeks to document positive and negative impacts on human rights of different sources, scales, and stages of renewable energy development as part of a so-called just transition, including in relation to critical minerals, throughout their life cycle.
The Special Rapporteur seeks to present constructive and concrete recommendations on human rights-based, gender-responsive, age-sensitive, disability-inclusive and risk-informed approaches to renewable energy development and critical minerals throughout their life cycle, which enhance the protection of all human rights, including everyone’s human right to a healthy environment, and prevent discrimination, in the context of just transition.
