Morocco Holds Debate in Geneva on Climate Change

Geneva – Morocco organized, on Monday in Geneva, a debate to discuss the possibility of maintaining global momentum in favor of climate with respect for human rights.

Participants in the meeting, held on the sidelines of the main sessions of the UN Human Rights Council, called for strengthening large-scale awareness-raising initiatives involving non-state actors that focus on building bridges between the climate agenda and the protection of human rights.

Permanent Representative of Morocco in Geneva, Ambassador Mohamed Auajjar, stressed that human rights-based climate action requires open institutions and processes, as well as precise and transparent measures, notably in terms of reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

States should develop relevant human rights indicators in the context of climate change, he said, stressing the need for an equitable response to both development and environmental needs for future generations.

For his part, president of the National Human Rights Council (CNDH), Driss El Yazami, called for greater contribution from national human rights institutions and also parliaments that are urged to harmonize national legislation with the provisions of the Paris Agreement.

The panel, which was moderated by director of the United Nations Environment Programme, Jan Dusik, brought together senior officials, notably from the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the UN’s High Commissioner for Human Rights.