high or extremely high drought severity. Around 300 million children live in areas with toxic levels of air pollution and 2 billion live in areas where air pollution exceeds the World Health Organization’s minimum air quality guidelines due, in part, to fossil fuel use. The Committee on the Rights of the Child (CRC Committee) has stated that, change] is one of the biggest threats to children’s health “[climate and exacerbates health disparities” and calls on States to prioritize children’s health in climate strategies. On 23 September 2016, a day of general discussion of the CRC Committee highlighted the link between children’s rights and the environment. The discussion considered the impacts of climate change on the rights of the child and the corresponding human rights obligations as well as the need for environmental policies to address children’s rights. The Paris Agreement, signed in December 2015, commits States to rights-based climate action. Its Preamble states that should, when taking action to address climate change, respect, promote “Parties and consider their respective obligations on human rights” including the rights of children and intergenerational equity. In this context, the panel discussion on climate change and the rights of the child is particularly timely and offers the opportunity to address the implications of climate change for the rights of the child. Background In September 2016, OHCHR transmitted to States and other relevant stakeholders a documents: questionnaire requesting inputs for its detailed analytical study on the relationship between climate change and the full and effective enjoyment of the rights of the child. The informal summary of inputs received is contained in document entitled between climate change and the full and effective enjoyment of the “Relationship rights of the child”. The individual inputs received can be accessed at: Rights Council resolutions on human rights and climate change: of 1 July 2016; of 2 July 2015: of 27 June 2014; of 30 September 2011; of 25 March 2009; of 28 March 2008.
high or extremely high drought severity. Around 300 million children live in areas with toxic levels of air pollution and 2 billion live in areas where air pollution exceeds the World Health Organization’s minimum air quality guidelines due, in part, to fossil fuel use. The Committee on the Rights of the Child (CRC Committee) has stated that, “[climate change] is one of the biggest threats to children’s health and exacerbates health disparities” and calls on States to prioritize children’s health in climate strategies. On 23 September 2016, a day of general discussion of the CRC Committee highlighted the link between children’s rights and the environment. The discussion considered the impacts of climate change on the rights of the child and the corresponding human rights obligations as well as the need for environmental policies to address children’s rights. The Paris Agreement, signed in December 2015, commits States to rights-based climate action. Its Preamble states that “Parties should, when taking action to address climate change, respect, promote and consider their respective obligations on human rights” including the rights of children and intergenerational equity. In this context, the panel discussion on climate change and the rights of the child is particularly timely and offers the opportunity to address the implications of climate change for the rights of the child. Background documents: In September 2016, OHCHR transmitted to States and other relevant stakeholders a questionnaire requesting inputs for its detailed analytical study on the relationship between climate change and the full and effective enjoyment of the rights of the child. The informal summary of inputs received is contained in document entitled “Relationship between climate change and the full and effective enjoyment of the rights of the child”. The individual inputs received can be accessed at: Rights Council resolutions on human rights and climate change: of 1 July 2016; of 2 July 2015: of 27 June 2014; of 30 September 2011; of 25 March 2009; of 28 March 2008.