Hima Rithika. E, LLM, The Tamil Nadu Dr Ambedkar Law University, Chennai (School of Excellence in Law)
Climate change is the greatest threat to human rights in the 21st century - Mary Robinson
ABSTRACT:
Climate change poses a serious threat to humanity it includes lives, health, ecosystem etc. Human rights are fundamental rights that all people possess, regardless of their gender, caste, or religion. Here climate change has a direct impact on the human rights of people within the country. Many international conferences have called for developed and developing nations to cut their greenhouse gas emissions in order to combat climate change. Nonetheless, the North-South debate caused a significant delay in the reduction of gas emissions. Small island nations and the least developed nations, who might not have contributed to the causes of climate change, could be severely impacted by climate change. But the effects of climate change have hurt these nations far more than people living on the same level in developed nations. It includes a lack of housing, food, self-determination, and life itself. These marginalized communities, such as women, children, indigenous people, farmers, and the poor, face discrimination within their own country. They are even denied the right to drink clean water. Climate change pushes women's questions even further and future generation's fundamental human rights are also impacted. People who are already vulnerable and marginalized in society have become much more so as a result of climate change. As a result there are internal migrants and climate refugees. Various International human rights organizations attempted to address them and make recommendations to protect those people. Thus conclude the paper by analyzing impact of climate change and obligations related to marginalize and those in vulnerable situation.
Keywords: Climate change, human rights, marginalized communities, right to food
