Human rights groups are calling on Tuvalu and Ireland to make human rights a core part of the second International Conference on Transitioning Away from Fossil Fuels, saying rights must be built into policies and implementation rather than simply recognised.
The International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) and 30 other human rights organisations have written to Tuvalu’s Minister for Home Affairs, Climate Change and Environment, Maina Talia, and Ireland’s Minister for Climate, Environment and Energy, Darragh O’Brien, ahead of the conference.
Tuvalu and Ireland will co-host the second conference, following the first conference held by Colombia and the Netherlands.
The groups said the first conference recognised the need to phase out fossil fuels through policies that advance human rights, promote economic justice and protect environmental defenders.
They welcomed the report from the first conference, particularly its recognition of a rights-based and locally led approach to a just transition.
The organisations said the second conference should now move beyond recognising human rights and establish concrete measures to ensure they are applied throughout the transition process.
They said human rights should not be treated only as a cross-cutting issue, but as legal obligations that must shape decision-making, accountability and implementation.
The organisations are calling for a dedicated human rights workstream as part of the conference process.
They want the workstream to establish a common framework based on existing international human rights principles and safeguards.
These include transparency, access to information, meaningful participation, access to justice, non-discrimination and the duty to protect, respect and fulfil the right to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment.
The groups also called for protection of environmental and labour rights defenders and stronger measures for marginalised groups, including children, older people, workers and unions, women, gender-diverse people, Indigenous Peoples and people with disabilities.
They also called for recognition of Free, Prior and Informed Consent and the collective rights of Indigenous Peoples.
The organisations want the International Court of Justice Advisory Opinion on climate change to provide a legal foundation for the second conference.
They said the Court affirmed that States have duties under international human rights and environmental law to cooperate and prevent significant harm to the environment and climate system.
The groups said grounding the conference in these legal obligations could provide a common framework for stronger action on the transition away from fossil fuels.
They also called on the Scientific Panel for the Global Energy Transition to apply human rights, intergenerational equity and the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities in providing technical support for national and regional transition roadmaps.
The organisations said climate action must be consistent with the obligation to keep global temperature rise below 1.5°C while ensuring the transition is fair and equitable.
The open letter also calls for participating countries to report on how they are incorporating human rights obligations into their transition strategies, policies, nationally determined contributions and national roadmaps.
The organisations want all rights-holders, including environmental human rights defenders, and government representatives who wish to attend the conference to have access without unnecessary barriers.
They specifically proposed an e-visa system allowing accredited delegates to obtain visas within two weeks of applying.
The groups said the proposed measures would strengthen the legitimacy and effectiveness of the conference and help ensure the transition away from fossil fuels protects human rights.
They also offered to work with Tuvalu and Ireland to make the second conference a global benchmark for a just and equitable transition away from fossil fuels.
