The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, says democracy, human rights and the rule of law are the foundations for effective and sustainable climate action.

Mr Türk said this on Monday at the fifth session of the United Nations Forum on human rights, democracy and the rule of law.

The forum had the theme: “Democracy and Climate Change: Focusing on Solutions.”

He said human rights, democracy and rule of law were interdependent and mutually reinforcing, but were currently under threat both nationally and internationally.

According to Mr Türk, data gathered by his office indicated that 193 environmental and indigenous human rights defenders were killed or went missing in 2024 alone.

He warned that challenges such as the spread of misinformation, attacks on science, and declining financial support for environmental initiatives were undermining climate action globally.

Mr Türk noted that some countries were cutting funding for climate programmes and withdrawing from key international agreements even as the planet continued to heat up.

“Even countries with strong democratic institutions are struggling to act with the speed, fairness and inclusion required to address the climate emergency, resulting in a loss of public trust.

“The climate emergency is a wake-up call for more participatory and effective governance that is based on human rights,” he said.

Citing findings from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, Mr Türk said rights-based approaches to climate action lead to more sustainable outcomes.

He identified three priority areas for action, including open civic space, budgets anchored on human rights, and a global push for climate justice grounded in the rule of law.

The UN rights chief said democracy thrived when communities, especially those most affected by climate change, can freely voice their concerns and share their solutions.

He said a free and open public sphere enabled scientists, journalists and environmental defenders to share evidence, expose abuses and promote accountability.

Mr Türk emphasised that democracy extended beyond elections, adding that people’s meaningful participation in public affairs strengthened institutions and ensured fairer, more effective decisions.

He also warned of the negative influence of corporate lobbying, saying the potential for corporate capture of climate policy must be urgently addressed.

He added that investors and businesses should disclose and divest from sectors causing irreparable harm to the environment, including fossil fuels.

Mr Türk further called for a concerted global effort to ensure climate action and justice were embedded in the rule of law at both national and international levels.

“Effective climate action goes hand-in-hand with the full enjoyment of human rights, and to meet the urgency of the moment, we need fact-based governance, focused on solutions, not distractions.

“We need governance that looks beyond short-term electoral cycles and power grabs and commits to change that benefits people,” Mr Türk said.

(NAN)