Needs Assessment and Gap Analysis of the National Human Rights Institutions in South Asia 8 policies, and hold governments accountable for their commitments. Their work often involves monitoring and raising awareness about the human rights impacts of climate change and fostering dialogue between stakeholders to address these concerns effectively. Additionally, NHRIs support climate adaptation efforts by providing a human rights perspective on climate-related challenges. They facilitate access to justice for individuals and communities impacted by climate change, ensuring that their rights are upheld in the face of environmental and social disruptions. By offering guidance on integrating human rights into climate action and promoting participatory approaches, NHRIs contribute to more equitable and effective climate responses. Their role is pivotal in ensuring that climate change measures are not only environmentally sustainable but also socially just and rights-respecting. GANHRI identifies some of the core roles NHRIs can play at the national and international level in relation to CCMA.51 At the national level, NHRIs play several key roles in relation to climate change: 1. Reporting and advising: NHRIs report to and advise governments and stakeholders on applying a human rightsbased approach to climate mitigation and adaptation. 2. Promoting policy measures: Monitoring risks: 3. NHRIs promote effective climate and environmental policies. NHRIs ensure environmental, social, and human rights risk assessments are conducted before project initiation. 4. Advocating for inclusive policies: NHRIs advocate for climate policies that incorporate local communities’ expertise and indigenous knowledge. 5. Incorporating climate perspectives: NHRIs integrate climate change and environmental perspectives into investigations and base advocacy and policy advice on their findings. 6. Supporting affected individuals: NHRIs assist individuals adversely affected by climate change or mitigation measures in accessing remedies. 7. Protecting human rights defenders: NHRIs advocate for the protection of environmental human rights defenders (EHRDs) who may face violence or prosecution. Global Alliance of Human Rights Institutions, ‘Practical Guidance for NHRIs on Addressing Human Rights and Climate Change’ (2020) <https://ganhri.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Practical-Guidance-for-NHRIs-on-Addressing-Climate-Change_EN.pdf>. 51