To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what recent discussions she has had with the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on the Geneva Pledge on Human Rights and Climate Action; whether the Government plans to sign up to that Pledge before the 2015 UN Conference on Climate Change in Paris; and if she will make a statement.
Answered on
21 July 2015
My rt. hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change has had no recent discussions with my rt. hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary on the Geneva Pledge on Human Rights and Climate Action. The UK participates in in the United Nations Human Rights Council, which has adopted several resolutions on human rights and climate change, including one in June this year. The Human Rights Council is an inter-governmental body within the United Nations system responsible for strengthening the promotion and protection of human rights around the globe and for addressing situations of human rights violations and make recommendations on them. It has the ability to discuss all thematic human rights issues and situations that require its attention throughout the year. It meets at the UN Office at Geneva. The Council is made up of 47 United Nations Member States which are elected by the UN General Assembly.