Human Rights and Security Impacts of Climate Change and the African Climate Action Strategy

Abstract

On 12 December 2015 in Paris, France, the 21st Conference of Parties to United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, agreed among others, in enhancing the implementation of the Convention, including its objectives, aims to strengthen the global response to the threat of climate change, in the context of sustainable development and efforts to eradicate poverty, including by: a) holding the increase in the global average temperature to well below 2°C above pre-industrial levels and to pursue efforts to limit the temperature increase to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels, recognizing that this would significantly reduce the risks and impacts of climate change; b) increasing the ability to adapt to the adverse impacts of climate change and foster climate resilience and low greenhouse gas emissions development, in a manner that does not threaten food production; c) making finance flows consistent with a pathway towards low greenhouse gas emissions and climate resilient development. This agreement will be implemented to reflect equity and the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities, in the light of different national circumstances. (Article 2) Parties acknowledged that climate change is a common concern of humankind and should, when taking action to address climate change, respect, promote and consider their respective obligations on human rights, the right to health, the right of indigenous people, local communities, migrants, children, persons with disabilities and people in vulnerable situations and the right to development, as well as gender equality, empowerment of women and intergenerational equity.It is against this background that this paper seeks to achieve the following objectives:i. To underscore the significance of the nexus between human rights, security and climate change.ii. To highlight the implications of the effects of climate change and climate change policies on human rights and security (human and national).iii. To examine the rationale and contents of the African Climate action Strategy with a view to determining the extent of African States’ commitments to responding to the effects of climate change on the quality of life and standard of living of Africans as well as their means of livelihood/survival.iv. To conclude with some viable options for Africa.