Global warming increases the human rights gap, UN against climate apartheid

Global warming not only causes disruption to the environment and ecosystems, but to the economy itself and to society. 

The problem of disparities caused by the "Climate Apartheid" is now evident, which sees an increase in the gap between the rich who "escape" from the increase in heat and the poorest who thus suffer from the lack of food, water and damage caused by excessive heat, but also a lack of democracy and civil rights. 

It is the UN itself that denounces the situation, launching a worrying alarm about the crisis of climatic escalation. Philip Alston, UN special rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights, is critical of the “patently inadequate” steps taken by the UN itself, countries, NGOs and businesses, saying they are «entirely disproportionate to the urgency and magnitude of the threat». His report to the UN human rights council (HRC) concludes: «Human rights might not survive the coming upheaval». 

In his report, Alston expressed heavy accusations and criticisms against the policies and silences of US President Donald Trump, Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro and the British government. But Alston said there were also some positive developments, including legal cases against states and fossil fuel companies, the activism of Greta Thunberg and the worldwide school strikes, and Extinction Rebellion. 

Alston’s report on climate change and poverty will be formally presented to the HRC in Geneva on Friday. It said the greatest impact of the climate crisis would be on those living in poverty, with many losing access to adequate food and water. 

Alston said that «climate change threatens to undo the last 50 years of progress in development, global health, and poverty reduction. Yet democracy and the rule of law, as well as a wide range of civil and political rights are every bit at risk. The risk of community discontent, of growing inequality, and of even greater levels of deprivation among some groups, will likely stimulate nationalist, xenophobic, racist and other responses. Maintaining a balanced approach to civil and political rights will be extremely complex». 

«The impacts of the climate crisis could increase divisions», Alston said. «We risk a ‘climate apartheid’ scenario where the wealthy pay to escape overheating, hunger, and conflict while the rest of the world is left to suffer». 

International climate treaties have been ineffective, the report said, with even the 2015 Paris accord still leaving the world on course for a catastrophic 3C (equivalent to an increase of 5.4F) of heating without further action. However, the required changes to societies and economies could be an opportunity to improve poor people’s lives, Alston said.