HE Maryam bint Abdullah al-Attiyah, who serves as Chairperson of Qatar’s National Human Rights Committee and President of the Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions, emphasised that integrating human rights into legislation, policies, and climate plans is essential for achieving a sustainable future.
She noted that this approach enables countries to fulfil their human rights obligations. She highlighted that national human rights institutions are pivotal in developing a human rights-based approach to climate action, given their roles in monitoring and engaging with various national stakeholders, including civil society, rights-holders, and victims of climate change. Furthermore, their interaction with regional and international protection mechanisms equips them to address challenges and adopt best practices effectively.
This came during al-Attiyah’s address at the side event organised by Qatar’s National Human Rights Committee during the 29th session of the UN Climate Change Conference (COP29) in Baku, Azerbaijan. The event was attended by HE the Minister of Environment and Climate Change Dr Abdullah bin Abdulaziz bin Turki al-Subaie, Qatar’s ambassador to Azerbaijan Mohammed bin Hamad al-Hajri, and representatives from Qatar’s Ministry of Environment and Climate Change, the Azerbaijani Human Rights Commissioner, the Social Research Center, and the Azerbaijan Institute for Democracy and Human Rights.
The discussions focused on the impact of climate phenomena on the enjoyment of human rights, highlighting challenges such as increasing marginalisation of vulnerable groups, rising displacement and migration, and widening food and water gaps in many countries worldwide. Al-Attiyah said that the current meeting aligns with the National Human Rights Committees efforts to address climate change and its growing impact on human rights at the national, regional, and international levels.
She welcomed Qatar’s approach, which places human rights at the heart of its national policies and plans to address climate change. This approach, she said, has enabled Qatar to make strides in renewable energy investments, energy efficiency improvements, and the development of environmentally friendly technologies and projects, such as Lusail and Msheireb Downtown Doha, which represent Qatar’s commitment to building a sustainable future in line with Qatar National Vision 2030.
As the President of the Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions, al-Attiyah encouraged national human rights institutions to engage with climate change issues and collaborate with one another. She emphasised the ongoing efforts to amplify the voice of these institutions at all relevant international forums, underscoring that inclusive engagement with all stakeholders is the only way to address climate change challenges and achieve climate justice for future generations.
She also mentioned plans to recommend establishing a permanent forum for dialogue between national human rights institutions and other stakeholders on emerging climate issues and response strategies. Abdulaziz bin Ahmed bin Abdullah al-Mahmoud, Undersecretary at Qatar’s Ministry of Environment and Climate Change, highlighted Qatar’s efforts to combat climate change threats. He noted the recent launch of the ministry’s 2024-2030 strategy, which aims to achieve a vision of a sustainable environment balanced with development and resilient to climate change.
Human Rights Commissioner of Azerbaijan Sabina Aliyeva stressed the importance of international co-operation to address the increasing impact of climate change on human rights, including the rights to life, adequate food, clean water, health, decent housing, and education.
She also highlighted the exacerbated risks of displacement, migration, environmental conflicts, and the marginalization of vulnerable groups, including persons with disabilities, children, women, and the elderly.Meanwhile, Zahid Oruj, a member of the Azerbaijani National Assembly and chair of the executive board of the social research centre, called for the exchange of experiences and best practices in the field of climate action, with a focus on the role of national human rights institutions.
Director of the Azerbaijan Institute for Democracy and Human Rights Dr Ahmad Shahidov underscored the active role of national human rights institutions in climate policy discussions and their comprehensive evaluation of various climate actions and measures.
