Jusoor International: COP28 is an opportunity to realize climate justice

The head of the Jusoor International Center for Media and Development, Mohamed al-Hammadi, stressed the crisis the world is facing in terms of achieving climate justice due to the negative consequences related to climate change, which largely and directly affect basic human rights and are reflected in the promotion and protection of human rights and the implementation of the United Nations plan of achieving sustainable development.

Hammadi’s words came within Jusoor’s participation in the 53rd session of the United Nations Human Rights Council being held from June 19 to July 14. Jusoor participated in the current session through the interactive dialogue held to discuss the most important topics related to human rights in today’s world. The discussion focused on many issues and axes related to the actions of the Council and its international mechanisms, and at the forefront were issues related to climate change and the achievement of climate justice.

The head of Jusoor International highlighted the efforts exerted by the Human Rights Council to achieve climate justice. He asserted the necessity of enabling people to enjoy their basic rights, which have witnessed an obvious decline due to the negative effects of climate change. Hammadi’s speech also touched upon the irresponsible policies that harm climate protection and the negative impacts suffered by states and societies due to the international community’s reluctance to tackle violations created by climate change and how they negatively affect human rights.  

Hammadi praised the efforts of the Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of human rights in the context of climate change and his keenness to achieve climate justice, especially for the groups most affected by climate change, in light of the grave violations the world faces related to climate and environmental changes at the global level and the difficulty of addressing these effects. He also discussed the international community’s failure to confront negative actions made by states, companies, and individuals supposed to be concerned with climate change.

Hammadi stressed the importance of taking advantage of the upcoming COP28 climate conference, which will be held in the United Arab of Emirates (UAE), and to come up with decisions that contribute to promoting climate justice throughout the world, as well to work to ensure the protection and promotion of human rights in a fair and equal manner for all, in a way that affirms the commitment of all states to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and the fulfillment of their international obligations related to the Paris Climate Agreement.