February 2009: The tenth session of the Human Rights Council will convene from 2-27 March 2009, in Geneva, Switzerland, and is expected to focus on the impact of the global economic and financial crises on the universal realization and effective enjoyment of human rights as the priority theme. Among other agenda items, the Council will consider a report by the High Commissioner on the relationship between climate change and human rights.

The report was produced in consultation with member States and relevant actors, including the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and the Secretariat of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). The report provides an analysis of data through a human rights lens, and notes that it is clear that projected climate change-related effects threaten the effective enjoyment of a range of human rights, such as the right to safe and adequate water and food, and the right to health and adequate housing. [10th session of the Human Rights Council] [Report of the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights on the relationship between climate change and human rights (A/HRC/10/61)]