[enviro-vlc] Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights: analytical study and consultation on climate change and human rights

[Vern Weitzel]

Subject: 	Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human
Rights: analytical study and consultation on climate change and human rights
Date: 	Wed, 29 Oct 2008 10:05:01 +0100
From: 	Ulrik Halsteen <uhalsteen at ohchr.org>


Dear colleagues and friends,

Last week Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights 
(OHCHR) convened an open-ended consultation on the relationship between climate 
change and human rights in preparation of an OHCHR study on this subject due to 
be considered by the Human Rights Council at its tenth session in March 2009.

More than 150 representatives of States, Inter-governmental organizations, 
national human rights institutions and civil society organizations contributed 
to an engaging and fruitful discussion on the interface between climate change 
and human rights. The high quality of presentations made by expert panelists 
secured a substantive level of participation throughout the day. A number of 
these presentations are now available on the OHCHR website at: 
http://www2.ohchr.org/english/issues/climatechange/consultation.htm

The presentations as well as the many substantive submissions received for the 
OHCHR study provide a unique source of knowledge and information on the human 
rights implications of climate change. The submissions are available at: 
http://www2.ohchr.org/english/issues/climatechange/submissions.htm

Background: The Human Rights Council, in resolution 7/23 of 28 March 2008, 
mandated the OHCHR to conduct an analytical study on the relationship between 
human rights and climate change, taking into account the views of States, 
relevant inter-governmental organizations and other stakeholders. The study will 
be considered by the Council at its tenth session in March 2009. Together with a 
summary of the Council's debate, the study will be made available to the 
Conference of Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change.

More information on the OHCHR study is available at: 
http://www2.ohchr.org/english/issues/climatechange/index.htm. You may also 
contact the Human Rights, Economic and Social Issues Unit, RRDD, OHCHR 
(contact: Ulrik Halsteen at e-mail: uhalsteen at ohchr.org)

With best regards,

Human Rights, Economic and Social Issues Unit (HRESI/RRDD)
Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights