Urgent climate protection measures in line with human rights are required

In response to the extreme climate events in South Asia, Marta Schaaf, Programme Director for Climate, Economic Social Justice and Corporate Responsibility at Amnesty International, said:

“The devastating floods in South Asia following a period of intense heatwaves are another example of the failure to ensure collective, human rights-compliant climate protection. Human-induced climate change has made extreme climate events much more likely, exacerbating the continuum of extreme heat and floods that we have seen with increasing frequency in recent years.

Without a roadmap for climate justice there can be no solution, and without human rights there can be no climate justice.

“The vast economic inequalities in the South Asia region have only increased the suffering of the most vulnerable and marginalised communities, resulting in high death tolls and displacement year after year. These communities have contributed almost nothing to greenhouse gas emissions, but are paying for government inaction on climate with their livelihoods and, all too often, with their lives. There can be no solution without a roadmap for climate justice, and there can be no climate justice without human rights.

“It’s simple: countries must end their dependence on fossil fuels and the historical high-income emitters, other high-income G20 members and high-income fossil fuel producing countries must commit to climate finance to help developing countries adapt to climate change, achieve a just transition to renewable energy and compensate communities for the inevitable loss and damage. Now is the time to do this.”

Background:

Millions of people in India, Nepal and Bangladesh were recently affected by severe flooding. Torrential rains caused flash floods and landslides, several rivers burst their banks and major dams were at risk.

In India, more than 80 people have died in the northeastern state of Assam since mid-May. This affects 2.4 million people. 2,580 villages are still under water. In Nepal, around 91 people have reportedly died in the last four weeks due to heavy rains and landslides. In Bangladesh, floods have claimed eight lives and forced tens of thousands of people to flee their homes. Around 40,000 people have sought refuge in government shelters.

In Pakistan, hundreds of people in northern regions have been evacuated due to flooding caused by melting glaciers, while other parts are suffering from extreme heat. New Delhi, the capital of India, recorded the highest temperatures ever recorded this summer; deaths due to the heat are not systematically recorded.