Tuesday, January 16 2024 16:29

ArmInfo. "Climate change is the greatest threat to human rights in the 21st century".  Extreme weather, disruption and upheaval, and conflict over resources prevent people the world over from leading safe and healthy lives. Sadly, the poorest and most vulnerable are impacted most. This is stated in an article by IMAGINE co-founder and former Unilever CEO Paul Polman for Reuters.

"We need a collective response to climate change that has justice,  compassion and fairness at its heart. As we enter one of the most  profound periods of social and economic transformation in human  history, we must protect the most fundamental freedoms of all," the  author of the article believes.  Polman states that despite its  shortcomings, last month's COP28 in Dubai at least put greater focus  on climate justice. Overall, the talks reached a better outcome than  many had expected.

" But the United Arab Emirates' ability to lead bold action was  limited by its government's ties to the oil industry, and because of  its dubious record on human rights. This was a problem in Egypt the  year before, and it threatens to undermine the upcoming COP29, which  to the surprise of many will be held in Azerbaijan," the article  reads.

The author draws attention to the fact that oil and gas already make  up around 90% of Azerbaijan's export revenues, and the government is  openly working to increase gas production. 

"At the same time, people suffer torture, arbitrary detentions and  lack of an independent judiciary, while the government continues to  hold more than 100 political prisoners.  Independent media is  stifled, with six journalists recently imprisoned. This raises the  question: will the thousands of independent journalists willingly put  themselves at risk to cover - and potentially criticise - COP29 in  Azerbaijan?", Polman asks.  In this vein, the author notes that last  year, Azerbaijani forces drove more than 100,000 Armenians from the  disputed territory of Nagorno-Karabakh after a prolonged siege.

" Human rights organisations have described these actions as  tantamount to genocide. Rewarding such behaviour by allowing the  country to host COP29 sends the wrong message to the international  community. As things stand, it is difficult to see how Baku will be  either willing or able to unite the world around urgent climate  action. How can you push others to higher ambition, while continuing  to build your economy on fossil fuels? How can you convene the  different players in a spirit of inclusion and compromise, while  violently suppressing dissent?  Some are already saying that we  should effectively bypass the summit, accepting that it will be a  non-event, and instead focus on COP30, which will be held in Brazil.  But we do not have the luxury of time to waste. I believe three  developments could still improve the outlook for this year's talks,"  he notes.

"First, while the Azerbaijan decision appears done and dusted, the  United Nations could end its ambivalence towards COP hosts. It could  explicitly recognise concerns over Azerbaijan's record on climate and  human rights. And it could commit to a more transparent and robust  selection process from here.  This is not about chasing perfection or  setting the bar unrealistically high. But, for their credibility and  effectiveness, future COPs should be hosted by nations that are  sincere about decarbonising, and committed to the liberties on which  successful transition depends. Sharper selection criteria should be  applied.

Second, business can exert more pressure. When I was chief executive  of Unilever, we helped develop the U.N. Guiding Principles on  Business and Human Rights, which enshrines the responsibility of  companies to actively protect basic freedoms. Today, this duty takes  on an existential dimension: your business can have the best  carbon-reduction target, but if you are not prepared to stand up for  human rights and broader values, and to press governments to do so,  it's not enough. Climate action without human rights action is only  half the job", he added.

"Third, it is still possible for Azerbaijan's leaders to confound  their critics. The government could set out a plan to pivot away from  oil and gas. President Ilham Aliyev could initiate a program of  reforms to bring his country closer to international human rights  standards, starting with heeding international calls to release  Armenian political prisoners who are currently being illegally  detained, the most well-known being prominent businessman and  humanitarian Ruben Vardanyan. President Aliyev would earn the respect  and goodwill of the international community, and help Azerbaijan gain  greater status on the world stage, a goal it is desperate to reach.

No government, not even the one in Baku, is immune to the influence  of a united international community, or to businesses and investors  prepared to take a stand. Our test now is to use this leverage  effectively, to defend human freedom and keep our international  climate effort on track," the author summarized.