“Climate change as a human rights issue”: study and policy brief published by the SHRI
The effects of climate change on human rights
Climate change poses an acute threat to the Earth’s ecosystem as a result of human activity and is already putting the livelihoods of many people around the world at risk. Temperature increases, more frequent extreme weather events and rising sea levels have direct impacts on human rights, particularly the rights to life, health, food, clean water and housing.
The SHRI’s study on “Climate change as a human rights issue” systematically examines the human rights principles of a coherent Swiss climate policy and legislation. It draws on the latest developments within the UN human rights bodies and international and regional jurisprudence, in particular the Advisory Opinion on climate change of the International Court of Justice (2025) and the judgment of the European Court of Human Rights in the case of Verein KlimaSeniorinnen and Others v. Switzerland (2024).
Climate policy as human rights policy
The study identifies Swiss climate policy and legislation as part of human and fundamental rights policy and analyses the substantive and procedural obligations of the state which arise from this. Switzerland’s obligations include implementing effective measures for climate mitigation and reducing greenhouse gas emissions, as well as adapting to the impacts of climate change and protecting the population from climate-related damage.
A human rights perspective on climate change
The human rights perspective places particular emphasis on the protection of vulnerable groups. Similarly important are procedural safeguards such as access to justice, the right to information and participation and the principles of transparency and the rule of law. In addition, the study examines the human-rights-related risks of measures to address climate change, as well as extraterritorial obligations, the role of private actors, the human-rights-based approach to climate-related loss and damage, and the rights of future generations.
The study and accompanying policy brief are aimed at Switzerland’s political decision-makers and administrative bodies at local, regional and national level, as well as courts and other specialists. It also seeks to support national human rights institutions, civil society organisations and rights holders to contribute to the development, implementation and monitoring of measures to address climate change.
The objective is to embed climate change more firmly as a human rights issue in Switzerland and so to contribute to climate policy and legislation which is consistently focused on the rights of those affected.