Impacts

Understanding the Vulnerabilities of Climate Change

As the climate continues to change, we face greater challenges that will impact each of our universal human rights. This will affect all aspects of living, from extreme climate events that threaten our homes to direct effects on our health and food security.

However, there is good news. Together, we can develop effective mitigation and adaptation plans that enable all of us, includingfuture generations, to live in a world where their rights to life, home, cultural heritage and identity are more secure.

Climate Change Impacts

Poverty, livelihoods and sustainable development

Cities, settlements and community infrastructure

Ocean and coastal ecosystems

Health, well-being and safety

Biodiversity and ecosystems

Food and ecosystems products

People Most Affected

  • Indigenous people

  • Women

  • Children and future generations

  • Migrants and internally displaced people

  • People with disabilities

Impacts Educator’s Guide

Bring the conversation about climate change impacts to the classroom. Free and available for all educators.

“The greatest threat to our planet is the belief that someone else will save it.”

—Robert Swan

Polar explorer and environmental leader

In Their Own Words

Five summit panelists share their take on climate change and human rights.

Panelist Stories

Across the Globe

People around the world share how climate change has impacted their communities.

Regional Stories

Human Rights & Climate Change

Human rights are universal legal rights established by the United Nations General Assembly that extend to every person. The rights were established to protect people against actions—or lack of actions—that interfere with a person’s fundamental freedom to life, liberty and security of person.

The Right to Life

Everyone has the right to life, liberty and security of person. The inherent right to life of every human being is a fundamental right that cannot be limited or suspended under any circumstances.

Health, well-being and safety

  • Effects on child growth and development
  • Increased hunger and malnutrition
  • Increased illness and death from cardiorespiratory conditions
  • People in sub-Saharan Africa
  • People in South Asia
  • Future generations

~250,000 additional deaths

caused each year, between 2030 and 2050,by climate change due to malnutrition, malaria, diarrhea and heat stress

(World Health Organization)

The Right to Self-Determination & Development

Everyone is entitled to participate in, contribute to and enjoy economic, social, cultural and political development in which all human rights and fundamental freedoms can be fully realized.

Poverty, livelihoods and sustainable development

  • Climate change threatens lives and livelihoods, and the survival of entire peoples.

Cities, settlements and community infrastructure

  • People living in small island states, as well as Indigenous people, face increasing challenges to their ability to continue to live on their traditional territory and freely pursue their economic, social and cultural development. Those challenges include:
    • Rising sea levels
    • Tropical and extratropical cyclones
    • Increasing air and sea surface temperatures
    • Changing rainfall patterns
    • Loss of adaptive capacity and ecosystem services

Biodiversity and ecosystems

  • Climate change is seriously affecting coastal areas and low-lying coastal countries, including many least developed countries and small island developing states, threatening the survival of societies and the biological support systems of the planet.
  • Small island states
  • Indigenous peoples
  • Future generations

100 million additional people

will be pushed into poverty by 2030 due to climate change

(The World Bank)

The Right to Health

The right to health includes access to safe and potable water and adequate sanitation; an adequate supply of safe food, nutrition and housing; and healthy work and environmental conditions.