Just transition and human rights

Underscoring the interlinkage between just transition and human rights, the Human Rights Council has, among other things, affirmed that prioritizing equity, climate justice, social justice, inclusion and just transition processes can enable adaptation and ambitious mitigation actions and climate-resilient development. It has reaffirmed that social security systems can help to support just transitions as well as reaffirmed the importance of international cooperation as an enabler of just transition pathways towards achieving the goals in the Paris Agreement, including through the scaling-up of investment flows and relevant financial support.

Secretary-General’s synthesis report on just transition and human rights

Read here: Advance edited version - Report of the Secretary-General: Synthesis report on opportunities, best practices, actionable solutions, challenges and barriers relevant to just transition and the full realization of human rights for all people (A/HRC/60/52)

Human Rights Council resolution 56/8 of 10 July 2024 entitled “Human rights and climate change” requested the Secretary-General to consult Member States and other relevant stakeholders in order to prepare and submit to the sixtieth session of the Human Rights Council a synthesis report on opportunities, best practices, actionable solutions, challenges and barriers relevant to a just transition and 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, NGOs, UN Agencies, IGOs, Academic Institutions and NHRIs, inviting them to respond to the questionnaire and provide input. The inputs received will be made available on the relevant Call for Inputs page.

Human Rights Council annual panel discussion on the adverse impacts of climate change on human rights [accessible panel]: Facilitating just transitions in the context of addressing the impacts of climate change on human rights

Human Rights Council resolution 56/8 decided to incorporate into its programme of work for the 59^th session a panel discussion focused on facilitating just transitions in the context of addressing the adverse impacts of climate change on the full realization of human rights for all people, and ways forward to address the challenges thereto, as well as on best practices and lessons learned. The concept note, video recording and opening remarks for the panel discussion, held on 30 June 2025 at the Human Rights Council, are available below.

• Concept note for the panel discussion on ensuring livelihood resilience in the context of the risk of loss and damage relating to the adverse effects of climate change.
• Opening statement by Mr. Volker Türk, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights - HC Türk on the climate emergency: Human rights are a compass for a just transition, 30 June 2025
• Oral statements

Video of the panel discussion