Climate financing and human rights

The Human Rights Council, in its resolution 59/25 (July 2025), focused on the issue of climate financing in relation to human rights. The Council acknowledged that climate finance is important for the enjoyment of human rights by all and that significant gaps in climate financing remain. The Council emphasized the importance of appropriate remedies and compensation, including through financing, for loss and damage caused by climate change and environmental degradation to redress harm and associated violations of human rights. It noted that developing countries under debt stress are facing serious human rights implications and recognized that grant-based, earmarked and accessible international financing for climate action must be scaled up.

The Council urged States to take effective measures to fulfil at least the new collective quantified goal on climate finance, while making additional efforts to assist developing countries in their adaptation and mitigation initiatives, including in the pursuit of fair, equitable, inclusive and sustainable just transition pathways from a high-carbon economy to a low-carbon economy. It called upon States and all relevant stakeholders, with developed countries taking the lead, to promote equitable access to finance and resources for enhancing the adaptive capacities of the most affected communities, in accordance with the principles of equity, climate justice and the right to development by delivering on climate finance commitments and supporting loss and damage mechanisms. It also encouraged States, development partners and international financial institutions to adopt simplified procedures for accessing the various climate funds for developing countries, including direct access arrangements for funding.

Secretary-General’s synthesis report on climate financing and human rights

The Human Rights Council, in its resolution 59/25 of 8 July 2025 entitled “Human rights and climate change” (para. 24), requested the Secretary-General to consult Member States and other relevant stakeholders in order to prepare and submit to its sixty-third session a synthesis report on actionable pathways in mobilizing sufficient climate financing and associated challenges and opportunities in the pursuit of the full realization of human rights for all people.

To inform the synthesis report, OHCHR transmitted a Note Verbale and Questionnaire [English] [Français] to Member States, UN Agencies, IGOs, NHRIs, CSOs, and Academic Institutions, inviting them to respond to the questionnaire and provide input. The inputs received will be made available on the relevant Call for Input page.

Read the Advance Edited Version of the Report of the Secretary-General: Synthesis report on actionable pathways in mobilizing sufficient climate financing and associated challenges and opportunities in the pursuit of the full realization of human rights for all people (A/HRC/63/54)

Human Rights Council annual panel discussion on the adverse impacts of climate change on human rights [accessible panel]: Facilitating actionable pathways for gaining momentum in climate financing in the context of addressing the adverse impacts of climate change on the full realization of human rights for all people

Human Rights Council resolution 59/25 decided to incorporate into its programme of work for the 62^nd session a panel discussion focused on Facilitating actionable pathways for gaining momentum in climate financing in the context of addressing the adverse impacts of climate change on the full realization of human rights for all people. The concept note, video recording and opening remarks for the panel discussion, held on 19 June 2026 at the Human Rights Council, are available below.

• Concept note for the panel discussion
• Opening statement by Mr. Volker Türk, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights
• Oral statements

Video of the panel discussion