The impact of climate change on the right to food

Climate change negatively impacts the realization of the right to food and disproportionately impacts those who have contributed the least to its occurrence. Rural populations, peasants, small-scale farmers and fishers, pastoralists, Indigenous Peoples, low-income households, women and girls, and children in the global south are among those most at risk of suffering from climate-induced food insecurity and hunger.

Industrial food systems are significant greenhouse gas emitters that simultaneously produce food surplus and hunger. The urgent reduction of greenhouse gas emissions is key to limiting the climate-related impacts on the right to food. For climate action to effectively contribute to upholding the right to food, it must place rights-holders at the centre of all action, ensuring their effective contribution to its development and implementation.

High Commissioner's report on measures for minimizing the impacts of climate change on the right to food (2024)

Human Rights Council resolution 50/9 requested the High Commissioner for Human Rights to present a report to the Council at its fifty-fifth session identifying the necessary measures for minimizing the adverse impact of climate change on the full realization of the right to food, taking into account the panel discussion and the interactive dialogue held at the fifty-third session of the Council.

Read the Report of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights on Measures for minimizing the adverse impact of climate change on the full realization of the right to food here.

Secretary-General’s report on the impacts of climate change on the right to food (2023)

Human Rights Council resolution 50/9 (A/HRC/RES/50/9) requested the Secretary-General to consult Member States and other relevant stakeholders in order to prepare and submit to the fifty-third session of the Human Rights Council a report on the adverse impact of climate change on the full realization of the right to food.

To inform the study and panel discussion, 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 are available below.

Read the Report of the Secretary-General: The adverse impact of climate change on the full realization of the right to food

States

• Bolivia
• Brunei Darussalam
• Colombia (I, II)
• Italy
• Kuwait
• Mauritius
• Mexico (I, II)
• Nepal
• Oman
• Peru (I, II)
• Spain (I, II)

National Human Rights Institutions

• Argentina: Defensoría Del Pueblo De La Nación
• Croatia: Ombudswoman of the Republic of Croatia
• Philippines: The Commission on Human Rights of the Philippines

United Nations

• Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations
• UNICEF
• United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change
• World Food Programme
• World Trade Organization

Civil Society Organizations

• Anglican Consultative Council
• Association for Roma Memory Studies
• Association for the Reintegration of Crimea
• Caritas Internationalis
• CECIC
• Centre Africain De Recherche Industrielle
• Centre for Child and the Law, National Law School of India University
• Climate Refugees and Alight
• Clinique Doctorale Aix Global Justice
• Drexel University Dornsife, School of Public Health
• Foodinsider
• FIAN Haiti
• FIAN Indonesia
• FIAN Internacional Honduras
• FIAN International and Western Virginia University
• FIAN Nepal
• Housing and Land Rights Network
• International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions
• International Land Coalition
• Maat for Peace, Development and Human Rights
• Marcha das Mulheres Negras
• Northern Forests Research Association
• Nukila Evanty
• Observatori de Drets Econòmics, Socials, Culturals i Ambientals
• One Ocean Hub
• Prafulla Samantara
• Save the Children
• Tilu Linggi

Human Rights Council panel discussion on the adverse impact of climate change on the full realization of the right to food

Human Rights Council resolution 50/9 (A/HRC/RES/50/9) decided to incorporate into its programme of work for the 53rd session a panel discussion focusing on the adverse impact of climate change on the full realization of the right to food. The panel concept note is available below.

Concept note for the panel discussion on the adverse impact of climate change on the full realization of the right to food

Video of the panel discussion