The Climate Crisis is a Human Rights’ Issue
Climate justice can be considered as a subset of human rights, as it refers to climate-change induced impacts on people’s human rights. It is therefore important that climate issues are included in a Human Rights Framework for South Australia.
As the climate crisis deepens, more and more citizens will be adversely impacted by the effects of global warming. We have already witnessed an increase in fires, floods and extreme weather events. Some of the human impacts being witnessed are homelessness, loss of income, permanent displacement, increasing climate refugee numbers, famine, injury and death. These impacts can be described as climate justice issues, as was discussed in a previous blog.
We are all familiar with the phrase "human rights" which can be broadly defined as “... rights inherent to all human beings, regardless of race, sex, nationality, ethnicity, language, religion, or any other status. Human rights include the right to life and liberty, freedom from slavery and torture, freedom of opinion and expression, the right to work and education, and many more. Everyone is entitled to these rights, without discrimination.” United Nations.
Photo by Markus Spiske from Unsplash
In particular, climate change is impacting human rights that the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights of 1976 seeks to promote and protect including:
the right to work in just and favourable conditions;
the right to social protection, to an adequate standard of living and to the highest attainable standards of physical and mental wellbeing;
the right to education and the enjoyment of benefits of cultural freedom and scientific progress.
In contrast to Victoria, Queensland and the ACT, currently there is no dedicated human rights legislation in South Australia which could help provide human rights protections against the impacts of climate change. The Rights Resource Network of South Australia (RRNSA) has been lobbying for a Human Rights Framework to be introduced in South Australia. Excitingly, it was announced on International Human Rights Day just gone – Sunday 10 December 2023 – that the South Australian Parliament’s Social Development Committee will shortly be commencing an Inquiry into the potential for a Human Rights Act for South Australia!
Dr Sarah Moulds (left), senior lecturer in law UniSA and co-founder and Director of the Rights Resource Network SA said that:
“This is a BIG WIN for everyone who has been supporting efforts to improve rights protection in South Australia and a once in a generation chance to get a Human Rights Act for SA.”
The Climate Justice Network will be making a submission to the Inquiry that draws attention to the impact of the climate crisis on human rights.
You can sign up as supporters of a Human Rights Act for SA, both as individuals and as organisations, on the Human Rights Act for SA website. While you’re there, check out the range of excellent resources to use and share and to help you to write a strong submission and generate community enthusiasm for this reform. Written submissions need to be received by the Parliamentary Committee by Friday 16 February 2024.