Empowering National Human Rights Institutions to Advance Rights-Based Climate Action 7 In the statement adopted at the GANHRI Annual Conference on Climate Change: The Role of National Human Rights Institutions held on 4 December 2020, NHRIs committed to integrating human rights principles into climate action at both national and international levels. Nationally, they pledged to advise governments on human rights-based climate policies, promote and monitor environmental and social impact assessments, and ensure the inclusion of local communities and indigenous knowledge in climate actions. They also committed to integrating climate perspectives into complaint investigations and supporting affected individuals. Internationally, NHRIs committed to act as bridges between stakeholders, engage in global climate processes, and advocate for enhanced climate action as a human rights obligation. They also undertook to monitor and report on human rights implications of climate measures, promote inclusive data collection, and collaborate with global and regional initiatives, including through GANHRI and the United Nations (UN) system, to strengthen their capacities and impact.46 In December 2023, the UN General Assembly adopted a resolution recognising the crucial role of NHRIs in achieving the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development (SDGs), particularly in combating climate change.47 The resolution underscores NHRIs’ roles in monitoring, advising governments, and promoting human rights obligations related to climate mitigation and adaptation.48 NHRIs can engage with various stakeholders, including CSOs and EHRDs, to ensure their perspectives inform government decisions. Through GANHRI, NHRIs can also contribute to regional and global climate processes and have been officially admitted as an observer organisation in the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) process.49 In addition, the United Nations’ Multi-Stakeholder Plan of Action for Advancing Prevention, Protection, and Solutions for Internally Displaced Persons (GP20)50 also acknowledges NHRIs as key stakeholders with the mandate and potential to advance national action on internal displacement issues, including those related to CCMA. NHRIs play a crucial role in CCMA initiatives by integrating human rights considerations into climate policies and actions. They can help ensure that climate strategies respect, protect, and fulfil human rights, particularly for vulnerable and marginalised communities who are often disproportionately affected by climate change. NHRIs advocate for the inclusion of human rights principles in national and local climate plans, monitor the implementation of climate Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions, ‘GANHRI Statement Adopted at the GANHRI ANNUAL CONFERENCE on Climate Change: The Role of National Human Rights Institutions Held on 4 December 2020’ (2020) <https://ganhri.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/EN_AC_Statement_for_consultation.pdf>. 46 United Nations General Assembly, ‘United Nations General Assembly Resolution on National Human Rights Institutions (Res. A/C.3/78/L.27)’ (United Nations, 2023) <https://ganhri.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/A-C.3-L.27-issued-English-version.pdf>. 47 48 Ibid. 49 Ibid. United Nations, ‘Multi-Stakeholder Plan of Action for Advancing Prevention, Protection and Solutions for Internally Displaced Persons (GP20)’ (2018) <https://www.ohchr.org/en/special-procedures/sr-internally-displaced-persons/multi-stakeholder-plan-action-advancingprevention-protection-and-solutions-internally-displaced#:~:text=The objectives of the Plan,policy on internal displacement%2C data>. 50