The Effects of Climate Change from Human Rights Perspective

Climate change is a global problem with grave implications: environmental, social, economic, political and for the distribution of goods. It represents one of the principal challenges facing humanity in our day. Its worst impact will probably be felt by developing countries in coming decades.” – Pope Francis. The visible consequences pertaining to climate change has highly affected the rights of the human beings, especially in the developing countries. The increase in the earth’s temperature and rapid deforestation is a major indicator of climate change. The global impact that climate change patterns can have on human rights was not considered a relevant issue till recently. The anthropogenic activities of humans have a profound negative effect on the human rights of each and every individual citizen. The climate change has given rise to numerous issues which are now a major threat to human survival from excess precipitation, acid rain, increased in the sea level to fertile lands becoming barren and uncultivable, heavy deforestation and endangering home of the animals i.e. flora and fauna of the mother earth. These particular events occuring in the natural environment threaten the very existence of human survival and human rights. The civil or political rights of men, women and children are at a constant jeopardy. Growing inequalities between developed and developing countries are witnessed at a global level. The countries which produce higher concentration of greenhouse gases are at a lower risk of being exploited than that of the developing countries. New problems concerning the vulnerable populations seem to emerge in the society. In order to promptly protect the human rights, the means to prevent depletion of climate change must be addressed at a global platform.