From: Science and Development Network
Published July 21, 2008 09:08 AM

by Katherine Nightingale

Human rights can be a "compass" to guide research and policy development for climate change adaptation and mitigation strategies, according to a report.

The International Council on Human Rights Policy (ICHRP) says climate change will threaten — directly or indirectly — almost all human rights, including the right to food, health and a livelihood. But they have received little attention on the policy stage so far.

Human rights can be used as thresholds or minimum standards that climate change, or policies to deal with it, must not breach, says their report, released last month (24 June).

"Human rights are a helpful tool for asking who'll be affected by climate change or climate change policies in a particular way, based on a set of well-defined, internationally recognised criteria," says Robert Archer, executive director of ICHRP.

Local level data about the human costs of climate change are lacking in many countries, particularly those where the effects will be greatest, he says.

"On the science side we have a baseline level of data even in poor countries, but on the social side we're starting from zero."

For the full article, please visit http://www.enn.com/climate/article/37706&nbsp