UNRIC Library Backgrounder: Climate Change

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ActNow Climate Campaign
https://www.un.org/en/actnow/

How climate change is threatening human rights
(UN News, 26 December 2025):
https://news.un.org/en/story/2025/12/1166649

UN Entities & Related Bodies

• United Nations & Climate Change: https://www.un.org/en/climatechange/
  • A Moment of Opportunity: https://www.un.org/climatechange/moment-opportunity-2025
• United Nations Climate Change (UNFCCC):  http://unfccc.int/
• Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC): http://www.ipcc.ch/

UN Events

• UN Climate Change Conference – Antalya, Türkiye, 9-10 November 2026
  https://unfccc.int/cop31
• Special Address by the Secretary-General on the Global Response to the Climate and Energy Crises, 23 June 2026:
  https://www.un.org/en/climatechange/LCAW2026
• General Assembly, Eightieth Session, 82nd & 83rd Meetings, 20 May 2026
  General Assembly strengthens fight against climate change, adopting contentious, yet broadly supported draft among several texts on myriad topics (GA/12760, 20 May 2026): https://press.un.org/en/2026/ga12760.doc.htm
  • A/RES/80/263: Advisory Opinion of the International Court of Justice on the Obligations of States in Respect of Climate Change: https://docs.un.org/A/RES/80/263
  • UN News Centre Story: General Assembly backs historic World Court climate crisis ruling: https://news.un.org/en/story/2026/05/1167561
• Climate Summit, 24 September 2025:
  https://www.un.org/en/climatechange/climate-summit-2025
• Security Council Meeting, 13 February 2024: Maintenance of international peace and security – The impact of climate change and food insecurity: https://research.un.org/en/docs/sc/quick/meetings/2024

• Climate Ambition Summit, 20 September 2023, United Nations Headquarters, New York: https://www.un.org/en/climatechange/climate-ambition-summit
• General Assembly, Seventy-seventh Session, 64th & 65th Meetings, 29 March 2023
  General Assembly adopts resolution requesting International Court of Justice provide advisory opinion on states’ obligations concerning climate change (GA/12497): https://press.un.org/en/2023/ga12497.doc.htm
  • A/RES/77/276: Request for an advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice on the obligations of States in respect of climate change: https://docs.un.org/A/RES/77/276
• Security Council Meeting, 14 February 2023: Threats to international peace and security – Sea-level rise: implications for international peace and security: https://research.un.org/en/docs/sc/quick/meetings/2023
• Security Council Meeting, 9 December 2021: Maintenance of international
  peace and security: security in the context of terrorism and climate change: https://research.un.org/en/docs/sc/quick/meetings/2021
• High-level thematic debate on “Delivering climate action: for people, planet and prosperity”, 26 October 2021: https://www.un.org/pga/76/event/deliver_climate_action/, https://webtv.un.org/en/asset/k1e/k1enkaxyxk, https://news.un.org/en/story/2021/10/1104052
• Security Council Meeting, 23 September 2021: Maintenance of international peace and security – Climate and security: https://research.un.org/en/docs/sc/quick/meetings/2021
• Climate Summit, 23 September 2019: https://www.un.org/en/climatechange/2019-climate-action-summit
  • Actions not words: what was promised at the UN’s landmark climate summit? (23 September 2019): https://news.un.org/en/story/2019/09/1047112
• High Level Meeting on Climate and Sustainable Development for All, 29 March 2019: https://www.un.org/pga/73/event/climate-and-sustainable-development-for-all/
• Security Council Meeting, 25 January 2019: Maintenance of international peace and security – Addressing the impacts of climate-related disasters on international peace and security: http://research.un.org/en/docs/sc/quick/meetings/2019
• Security Council Meeting, 11 July 2018: Maintenance of international peace and security – Understanding and addressing climate-related security risks: http://research.un.org/en/docs/sc/quick/meetings/2018
• Intersessional panel discussion on human rights, climate change, migrants and persons displaced across international borders, 6 October 2017: https://www.ohchr.org/EN/HRBodies/HRC/Pages/PanelClimateMigrants.aspx
• High-Level SDG Event “Climate Change and the Sustainable Development Agenda”, 23 March 2017: https://bit.ly/2nqVQES
• Expert Meeting on Climate Change and Human Rights, 6-7 October 2016: https://www.ohchr.org/Documents/Issues/ClimateChange/EM2016/PoW.doc
• Paris Agreement Signing Ceremony – 22 April 2016: http://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/parisagreement22april/
• General Assembly High-Level Event on Climate Change (New York, 29 June 2015):
  http://www.un.org/pga/290615_hle-climate-change/
• Climate Summit – September 2014: https://www.un.org/sg/en/content/highlight/2014-09-23.html
• General Assembly Thematic Debate Sustainable Development and Climate Change: Practical Solutions in the Energy Water Nexus, 16 May 2013: https://www.un.org/en/ga/president/67/pdf/calendar/20130516-energywater.pdf
• Security Council Meeting, 20 July 2011: Maintenance of international peace and security – Impact of climate change: http://research.un.org/en/docs/sc/quick/meetings/2011

UN Treaties, Declarations and selected UN documents

• United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change: https://unfccc.int/sites/default/files/conveng.pdf
• Kyoto Protocol: https://unfccc.int/process/the-kyoto-protocol
• Bali Road Map: https://unfccc.int/process/conferences/pastconferences/bali-climate-change-conference-december-2007/statements-and-resources/Bali-Road-Map-Documents
• Cancun Agreements: https://unfccc.int/process/conferences/the-big-picture/milestones/the-cancun-agreements
• Durban Outcomes: https://unfccc.int/process/conferences/the-big-picture/milestones/outcomes-of-the-durban-conference
• Doha Climate Gateway: https://unfccc.int/process/conferences/the-big-picture/milestones/the-doha-climate-gateway
• Warsaw Outcomes: https://unfccc.int/process/conferences/the-big-picture/milestones/outcomes-of-the-warsaw-conference
• Lima Call for Climate Action: http://undocs.org/FCCC/CP/2014/10/Add.1
• Paris Agreement: https://unfccc.int/process/the-paris-agreement/what-is-the-paris-agreement
• Marrakech Action Proclamation for Our Climate and Sustainable Development: http://unfccc.int/files/meetings/marrakech_nov_2016/application/pdf/marrakech_action_proclamation.pdf
• Marrakech Partnership for Global Climate Action: http://unfccc.int/files/paris_agreement/application/pdf/marrakech_partnership_for_global_climate_action.pdf
• Concrete Climate Action Commitments at COP23: https://unfccc.int/news/concrete-climate-action-commitments-at-cop23
• Katowice Climate Package: https://unfccc.int/process-and-meetings/the-paris-agreement/katowice-climate-package
• The Glasgow Climate Pact – Key Outcomes from COP26: https://unfccc.int/process-and-meetings/the-paris-agreement/the-glasgow-climate-pact-key-outcomes-from-cop26
• Five Key Takeaways from COP27: https://unfccc.int/process-and-meetings/conferences/sharm-el-sheikh-climate-change-conference-november-2022/five-key-takeaways-from-cop27
• Outcomes of the Dubai Climate Change Conference – UAE consensus: https://unfccc.int/cop28/outcomes
• Outcomes of the Baku Climate Change Conference – Baku Climate Unity Pact: https://unfccc.int/cop29/auvs
• Outcomes of the Belém Climate Change Conference – Belém political package: https://unfccc.int/cop30/auvs
• UN documents on “climate change” – click here

Selected Statements and Speeches by UN Officials

• Warning methane driving nearly one third of global warming, Secretary-General urges action to drastically reduce emissions, at super pollutants reception (SG/SM/23194, 24 June 2026): https://press.un.org/en/2026/sgsm23194.doc.htm
  UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ remarks at the London Climate Week — Super Pollutants Reception
• Close finance gap, invest in resilience, Secretary-General urges at Climate Forum, warning sea levels, earth’s temperature are rising to dangerous heights (SG/SM/23193, 24 June 2026): https://press.un.org/en/2026/sgsm23193.doc.htm
• Fate of nature, humanity ‘one and the same’, Secretary-General says at London Climate Week reception, calls for investing in nature’s recovery (SG/SM/23192, 23 June 2026): https://press.un.org/en/2026/sgsm23192.doc.htm
• Time to supercharge clean energy transition, Secretary-General tells London Summit, urging more investment in modern systems, stronger international cooperation (SG/SM/23191, 23 June 2026): https://press.un.org/en/2026/sgsm23191.doc.htm
• As earth nears tipping point, time to replace fossil fuels with renewable energy to protect people, planet is now, Secretary-General tells London Climate Action Week (SG/SM/23189, 23 June 2026): https://press.un.org/en/2026/sgsm23189.doc.htm
• Keep leading by example, pushing national governments further towards fast, fair clean energy transition, Secretary-General tells Local Climate Action Summit (SG/SM/23188, 23 June 2026): https://press.un.org/en/2026/sgsm23188.doc.htm
• As El Niño nears, Secretary-General urges ‘climate action equal to crisis’ (SG/SM/23156, 2 June 2026): https://press.un.org/en/2026/sgsm23156.doc.htm
• Secretary-General welcomes General Assembly Resolution on International Court of Justice Advisory Opinion concerning States’ Climate Change Obligations (SG/SM/23140, 20 May 2026): https://press.un.org/en/2026/sgsm23140.doc.htm
• Unleash renewable energy revolution for cleaner, safer planet, Secretary-general urges in video message for Petersberg Climate Dialogue (SG/SM/23095, 21 April 2026): https://press.un.org/en/2026/sgsm23095.doc.htm
• Warning climate action is moving too slow, Secretary-General Mother Earth Day Message urges governments, business to follow lead of indigenous peoples, scientists (SG/SM/23091, 20 April 2026): https://press.un.org/en/2026/sgsm23091.doc.htm
• With climate indicators flashing red, path forward must be guided by science, ‘courage to act’, Secretary-General says in Video Message (SG/SM/23058, 23 March 2026): https://press.un.org/en/2026/sgsm23058.doc.htm
• While Climate Change Conference has delivered progress, gap to what science demands is ‘dangerously wide’, Secretary-General warns, urging deep, fast emission cuts (SG/SM/22922, 22 November 2025): https://press.un.org/en/2025/sgsm22922.doc.htm
• Continue demanding results to keep 1.5-degree goal alive, Secretary-General urges Youth Climate Conference, stressing boldness, not complacency, drives change (SG/SM/22906, 8 November 2025): https://press.un.org/en/2025/sgsm22906.doc.htm
• A decade after Paris, world must urgently close financing gap, speed action to keep 1.5°c limit alive, Secretary-General says at Climate Summit (SG/SM/22905, 7 November 2025): https://press.un.org/en/2025/sgsm22905.doc.htm
• Renewables are ‘powering prosperity’, Secretary-General tells Energy Round Table, calls for people-centred investment in grids, end to fossil fuel subsidies (SG/SM/22902, 7 November 2025): https://press.un.org/en/2025/sgsm22902.doc.htm
• Protecting forests, oceans ‘smart economics’, Secretary-General says at Climate Summit Thematic Session, calling for action to limit 1.5°c warming overshoot (SG/SM/22901, 6 November 2025): https://press.un.org/en/2025/sgsm22901.doc.htm
• Without tropical forests, ‘no path’ to 1.5°c limit on global warming, Secretary-General says at Launch of Global Facility (SG/SM/22900, 6 November 2025): https://press.un.org/en/2025/sgsm22900.doc.htm
• Secretary-General calls 1.5°c limit ‘red line for humanity’, urges leaders at Climate Summit to speed fossil fuel phase-out, reach global net zero by 2050 (SG/SM/22899, 6 November 2025): https://press.un.org/en/2025/sgsm22899.doc.htm
• With costs falling, investments rising, renewables are ‘rewriting the rules’ of energy, Secretary-General in Message at Launch of Emissions Gap Report (SG/SM/22895, 4 November 2025): https://press.un.org/en/2025/sgsm22895.doc.htm
• Local leaders driving ‘force’ behind plan to close gaps on climate finance, adaptation, ambition, Secretary-General tells Mayors Summit (SG/SM/22892, 3 November 2025): https://press.un.org/en/2025/sgsm22892.doc.htm
• Amid climate crisis, early warning systems vital to protecting communities, Secretary-General tells World Meteorological Organization High-Level Event (SG/SM/22873, 22 October 2025): https://press.un.org/en/2025/sgsm22873.doc.htm
• Science, economics compel action, Secretary-General tells Climate Summit (SG/SM/22829, 24 September 2025): https://press.un.org/en/2025/sgsm22829.doc.htm
• China-European Union commitment to strengthen cooperation critical to ensure upcoming Climate Change Conference represents ‘major turning point’, Secretary-General says (SG/SM/22739, 24 July 2025): https://press.un.org/en/2025/sgsm22739.doc.htm
• Secretary-General welcomes International Court of Justice’s Historic Advisory Opinion as victory for our planet, climate justice (SG/SM/22738, 23 July 2025): https://press.un.org/en/2025/sgsm22738.doc.htm
• Supercharging clean energy will repair humankind’s relationship with climate, fuel economic growth, Secretary-General says, noting $2 Trillion invested in 2024 (SG/SM/22735, 22 July 2025): https://press.un.org/en/2025/sgsm22735.doc.htm
• Dramatic reduction in emissions must start now, Secretary-General tells BRICS Conference, Calling Impact on Human Health ‘atrocious’ (SG/SM/22719, 7 July 2025): https://press.un.org/en/2025/sgsm22719.doc.htm
• Secretary-General urges developed countries to double annual climate adaptation finance to $40 Billion (SG/SM/22600, 26 March 2025): https://press.un.org/en/2025/sgsm22600.doc.htm
• Secretary-General, in World Meteorological Day Message, stresses early climate warning systems ‘not luxuries’, but sound, life-saving investments with almost 10-fold return (SG/SM/22583, 13 March 2025): https://press.un.org/en/2025/sgsm22583.doc.htm
• ‘Stay on right side of history’ in climate action, says UN Chief at Davos Forum, also urging action on artificial intelligence (SG/SM/22528, 22 January 2025): https://press.un.org/en/2025/sgsm22528.doc.htm
• We must ‘Shift our collective efforts into overdrive, deliver on goals of Paris Agreement’, says Secretary-General, outlining 2025 priorities (SG/SM/22522, 15 January 2025): https://press.un.org/en/2025/sgsm22522.doc.htm
• 2024 hottest year on record, Secretary-General warns, urging trailblazing climate action in 2025 to limit global temperature rise to 1.5°C, support most vulnerable (SG/SM/22517, 10 January 2025): https://press.un.org/en/2025/sgsm22517.doc.htm

Further information

• Rio Conventions Synergy Platform: https://rioconventions.org/
• UN News Centre on Climate and Environment: https://news.un.org/en/news/topic/climate-change
  • 8 reasons not to give up hope – and take climate action (4 April 2022): https://news.un.org/en/story/2022/04/1115512
• International Court of Justice – Obligations of States in respect of Climate Change: https://www.icj-cij.org/case/187
  • World Court says countries are legally obligated to curb emissions, protect climate (UN News, 23 July 2025): https://news.un.org/en/story/2025/07/1165475
• The Climate Dictionary: An everyday guide to climate change (2 February 2023): https://climatepromise.undp.org/news-and-stories/climate-dictionary-everyday-guide-climate-change
• UNDP Climate Promise – Helping countries reach their climate goals: https://climatepromise.undp.org/
• UNDP Campaign: Don’t choose extinction – A message to humanity from Frankie the dinosaur: https://dontchooseextinction.com/
• Sustainable Development Goal 13 – Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts:
  http://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/climatechange/
  http://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/climate-change-2/
• Global Issues on the UN Agenda – Climate Change:
  https://www.un.org/en/global-issues/climate-change
• Historic UN Human Rights case opens door to climate change asylum claims (21 January 2020): https://www.ohchr.org/en/press-releases/2020/01/historic-un-human-rights-case-opens-door-climate-change-asylum-claims
• UN child rights committee voices support for children campaigning on climate change (27 September 2019): https://www.ohchr.org/en/press-releases/2019/09/un-child-rights-committee-voices-support-children-campaigning-climate-change
• Countries violate rights over climate change, argue youth activists in landmark UN complaint (24 September 2019): https://news.un.org/en/story/2019/09/1047292
• Audiovisual Library of International Law
  • United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, 1992 / Introductory note by Laurence Boisson de Chazournes: http://legal.un.org/avl/ha/ccc/ccc.html
  • Kyoto Protocol to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, 1997 / Introductory note by Laurence Boisson de Chazournes: http://legal.un.org/avl/ha/kpccc/kpccc.html
  • Paris Agreement, 2015 / Introductory note by Daniel Bodansky: https://legal.un.org/avl/ha/pa/pa.html
  • Air, Atmosphere and Climate Change / by Paolo Galizzi: https://legal.un.org/avl/ls/Galizzi_EL.html
  • Protection of the Atmosphere and Codification and Progressive Development of International Law / by Shinya Murase: http://legal.un.org/avl/ls/Murase_EL.html
  • Climate Change and the Protection of the Ocean / by Dr. Nilüfer Oral: http://legal.un.org/avl/ls/Oral_EL.html
  • The International Climate Change Regime: Evolution and Challenges / by Ms. Lavanya Rajamani: https://legal.un.org/avl/ls/Rajamani_EL.html
  • The International Law of Climate Change after the Paris Agreement / by Mr. Jorge E. Viñuales: http://legal.un.org/avl/ls/Vinuales_EL.html
  • Climate Change and Population Movement / by Mr. Walter Kälin: http://legal.un.org/avl/ls/Kaelin_DPR.html
• Dag Hammarskjöld Library Digitization Blog – Convention on Climate Change: https://www.un.org/en/library/digitization-update-conv-climate-change
• UN Dag Hammarskjöld Library Research Guides – Climate Change – A Global Issue: http://research.un.org/en/climate-change
• United Nations Library Geneva Research Guide on Climate Change: https://libraryresources.unog.ch/climatechange
• UNRIC Library Backgrounder: Sea Level Rise – Selected Online Resources: https://unric.org/en/unric-library-backgrounder-sea-level-rise/
• INTERVIEW: “Climate change is in everybody’s backyard” – Robert Redford (UN News Centre, 1 July 2015):  https://news.un.org/en/story/2015/07/503332-interview-climate-change-everybodys-backyard-robert-redford

Selection of Publications available online

• UN News Centre on Climate Change: https://news.un.org/en/news/topic/climate-change
• UNEP Publications on Climate Change: http://www.unep.org/publications/
• UNFCCC Publications: https://unfccc.int/about-us/press-and-media/publications
• IPCC Reports (including IPCC Assessment Reports): https://www.ipcc.ch/reports/
• The Emissions Gap Reports (UNEP): https://www.unep.org/resources/emissions-gap-report
• World Bank Publications: https://openknowledge.worldbank.org/browse/subject?startsWith=C
• General recommendation No. 37 (2018) on the gender-related dimensions of disaster risk reduction in the context of climate change (CEDAW/C/GC/37, 13 March 2018):
  http://undocs.org/CEDAW/C/GC/37
• Climate Change Action for Sustainable Development (DESA, October 2015): http://bit.ly/1icXmUr
• Turn Down the Heat Reports (World Bank): http://www.worldbank.org/en/topic/climatechange/publication/turn-down-the-heat
• Protecting People Crossing Borders in the Context of Climate Change: Normative Gaps and Possible Approaches (UNHCR, February 2012): http://www.unhcr.org/4f33f1729.html

Mis- and Disinformation on Climate Change

• Global Initiative for Information Integrity on Climate Change: https://www.un.org/en/climatechange/information-integrity
• Myth Busters – The facts on climate and energy: https://www.un.org/en/climatechange/science/mythbusters

• ‘A wave of truth’: COP30 targets disinformation threat to climate action (UN News, 12 November 2025): https://news.un.org/en/story/2025/11/1166351
  • Declaration on Information Integrity on Climate Change: https://tinyurl.com/2cep3pdn
• UNESCO launches free online course to tackle climate disinformation through media and information literacy (25 July 2025): https://www.unesco.org/en/articles/unesco-launches-free-online-course-tackle-climate-disinformation-through-media-and-information
• UNDP – What are climate misinformation and disinformation and how can we tackle them? (Explainer, 1 May 2025): https://climatepromise.undp.org/news-and-stories/what-are-climate-misinformation-and-disinformation-and-how-can-we-tackle-them
• WHO/Europe – Communicating the climate crisis: the scientists contending with disinformation and climate anxiety (25 April 2025): https://www.who.int/europe/news-room/feature-stories/item/communicating-the-climate-crisis–the-scientists-contending-with-disinformation-and-climate-anxiety
• The World Bank Group’s Statement on Misinformation about Missing $41 Billion for Climate Financing (4 March 2025): https://www.worldbank.org/en/news/statement/2025/03/02/world-bank-statement-on-misinformation-about-41-billion-climate-financing
• WMO joins Global Initiative for Information Integrity to fight climate disinformation
  (20 November 2024): https://wmo.int/media/news/wmo-joins-global-initiative-information-integrity-fight-climate-disinformation
• New UN initiative aims to counter climate disinformation (19 November 2024): https://news.un.org/en/story/2024/11/1157191
• UNESCO – Addressing Disinformation and Eco-Anxiety: Encouraging Youth to Take Positive Action on Climate Issues – The Campus explores how scientific disinformation and eco-anxiety influence young people’s perceptions of climate change: (13 September 2024): https://www.unesco.org/en/articles/addressing-disinformation-and-eco-anxiety-encouraging-youth-take-positive-action-climate-issues
• Tackling climate mis/disinformation: ‘An urgent frontier for action’ (UN News, 30 October 2023): https://news.un.org/en/story/2023/10/1142972
• Five ways media and journalists can support climate action while tackling misinformation (UN News, 3 October 2022): https://news.un.org/en/story/2022/10/1129162