The Guardian reports: “On Thursday night, the decision-making body of COP26 – made up of the UN, the UK and representatives of developing and developed countries – ruled that governments should hold a three-week-long virtual meeting from 31 May to 17 June, to begin negotiations and hammer out agreements on key aspects of the talks.”
That article adds: “But countries will still have to wait until they meet in person to rubber-stamp any decisions.” That in-person meeting of COP26 remains scheduled for November 1-12 in Glasgow, Scotland.
The climate crisis and human rights
Michelle Bachelet, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, has warned that the climate crisis is the greatest ever threat to human rights.
The UN Human Rights Council has further stated: “Environmental human rights defenders must be ensured a safe and enabling environment to undertake their work free from hindrance and insecurity in recognition of their important role in supporting States to fulfill their obligations under the Paris Agreement.”
PBI-USA in collaboration with other PBI entities continues to follow the situation for human rights defenders in the lead-up to COP26.
We believe that guarantees and protection mechanisms for threatened land and environmental human rights defenders should be incorporated in the text of any climate agreement.
