ARTICLE · 05 MARCH 2024

The 'Just Transition': Human Rights Considerations In Climate Strategies

Norton Rose Fulbright Hong Kong

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The concept of a "just transition" refers to the principle that the move away from carbon-intensive activities to combat climate change should not cause or contribute to adverse human rights impacts.

United KingdomGovernment, Public Sector

The "just transition"

The concept of a "just transition" refers to the principle that the move away from carbon-intensive activities to combat climate change should not cause or contribute to adverse human rights impacts. There is a risk that as part of this necessary transition to more sustainable practices, workers and communities, in particular those who are most vulnerable from a human rights perspective, will be negatively impacted. "Just transition", a topic on which we have previously written, is an evolving concept that was included in the 2015 Paris Agreement and gained further traction at the 2021 UN Climate Conference in Glasgow.

The desire for a just transition forms part of a wider developing trend which reflects the understanding that human rights and climate change are interconnected issues. The UN has recently recognized the right to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment as a human right and the Office of the High Commissioner for Human

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