International Workshop on the Impacts of Climate Change on the Enjoyment of Human Rights of Vulnerable Groups

Mr. Do Hung Viet, Assistant Minister and Director-General of the Department of International Organizations, Ministry of Foreign Affairs;

Ms. Kanni Wignaraja, Assistant Secretary General and Director of the Regional Bureau for Asia and the Pacific, UNDP;

Excellencies Ambassadors;

Representatives from ministries, national partners, development partners, and non-governmental organisations;

Dear colleagues from the UN;

Ladies and gentlemen;

I am honoured to welcome you, as the newly appointed United Nations Resident Coordinator in Viet Nam, to the “International Workshop on the Impacts of Climate Change on the Enjoyment of Human Rights of Vulnerable Groups”. I would like to thank the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and UNDP for co-hosting this event, and the Embassy of Norway for their support. This is the first dialogue that brings together the Government, the international community, and civil society to discuss the nexus between climate change and human rights. This dialogue also comes at the heels of yesterday’s adoption of the UN General Assembly resolution recognizing the human right to a healthy environment, an important accountability tool for climate justice.

Today, we focus on this important topic at a very critical time for our planet and humankind. As UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has stressed, “Our world faces a triple planetary crisis of climate change, nature loss and pollution. This triple planetary crisis is our number one existential threat.” Indeed, human life depends on the environment in which we live, but at the same time, we can take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts.

As Assistant Minister Viet has already highlighted, let me emphasize that Viet Nam is among the world’s most vulnerable countries to climate change and natural disasters. The impacts have already been significant, with a loss of 3.2% of GDP in 2020. It has also been estimated that climate change could reduce national income by up to 3.5% by 2050. But beyond the costs to the economy that undermines Viet Nam’s growth, we think about those whose lives and livelihoods are most affected by the extreme events, hotter temperatures, and rising sea levels.

Climate vulnerability affects more than 74% of Viet Nam’s population. Consider amongst them the families who lose their houses in storms and floods, the children whose health deteriorates in their early life from being exposed to air pollution resulting from coal power and other emissions, and the women and girls who face increased risks of violence during crises and disasters, or the poorest, most marginalized and most vulnerable who may not be able to move away from being exposed to climate hazards and are forced to stay in situations of impoverishment. How can we address the climate change impacts on the rights to adequate food, water, education, housing, health, development, and even life itself?

Distinguished guests,

When we press for climate action, we are promoting human rights. As we are faced with the realities of the triple planetary crisis, I wanted to highlight a few areas that are important in guiding our responses. These are also consistent with the Human Rights Council resolution that Viet Nam has sponsored together with the Philippines and Bangladesh.

First, climate change is a human rights problem, and therefore human rights-based approaches must be at the centre of the solution. We must take affirmative steps in climate actions to protect, promote and fulfil all human rights for all persons, by integrating human rights and effective governance in climate actions and policies, empowering rights holders to participate in dialogue and policy formulation, and ensuring accountability of duty-bearers for their actions.

Second, emphasizing the commitment to dialogue and human rights for all that Assistant Minister Viet has mentioned in his remarks, allow me to stress the necessity of increased and meaningful participation of all sectors of society, including diverse non-governmental actors. Civil society and communities are fundamental partners in helping Viet Nam accelerate progress in achieving its COP26 commitments and the Sustainable Development Goals. As we make decisions that affect future generations, I turn towards the young people who are transforming today’s challenges into tomorrow’s solutions. We must create a space not only for their voices to be heard but also for them to shape the decisions that will affect their own future.

Third, it is critical to strengthen awareness and education on human rights and their linkages across all areas of development, from the earliest school age. This means promoting universal human rights values that encourage all individuals to uphold their own rights and those of others. This also means developing a collective understanding that everyone has the responsibility to make human rights a reality in each community. Knowledge is at the heart of empowering agents of change who can inspire action to realise the human rights of all people.

Distinguished guests,

Viet Nam is on the path to achieving its ambitious goals of achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2050 and phasing out coal by the 2040s. I would like to affirm that the UN in Viet Nam will work closely with the Government, development partners and civil society, to ensure that Viet Nam’s climate actions and energy transition are inclusive and just, based on the rule of law.

As Viet Nam seeks membership at the UN Human Rights Council for the term 2023-2025, the fulfilment of international human rights obligations through the Universal Periodic Review and the seven international human rights treaties that Viet Nam has ratified becomes even more critical. I would like to commend Viet Nam for submitting voluntary pledges as part of its candidacy to the Human Rights Council, and I am further encouraged that these voluntary pledges give particular attention to the rights of vulnerable groups and the impacts of climate change on the enjoyment of human rights. UN agencies in Viet Nam, in close collaboration with the Office of the High Commissioner on Human Rights, stand ready to support Viet Nam in implementing these pledges.

I am certain that with the Government’s commitment at the highest level, with the meaningful partnerships and collective engagement of all stakeholders, and with the shared vision of advancing both climate action and human rights, we can hope for an inclusive, just, and sustainable future for people and our planet.