Columbia International Affairs Online: Policy Briefs

CIAO DATE: 02/2015

The Role of Human Rights in Climate Change Adaptation

December 2014

Danish Institute for International Studies

Abstract

Governments have a responsibility to protect individuals affected by climate change or adaptation strategies, but often lack capacity to do so. This Policy Brief suggests that a human rights-based approach to climate change can be used to clarify who is responsible for climate change adaptation and what their duties are. The Brief also underlines the need for civil society to combine advocacy efforts with helping governments shoulder the difficult tasks of addressing climate risks. Human rights-based approaches can provide a platform for this.