Introduction

Abstract

Scientific evidence shows that anthropogenic GHG emissions have an impact on climate change. They contribute to rising atmospheric temperatures, and values higher than 2° Celsius will have serious consequences in terms of phenomena such as ice melting, sea-level rise, droughts, floods and hurricanes. These can further cause, inter alia, loss of life, territories, biodiversity and health problems, and thus significantly affect human rights. In addition, mitigation and adaptation policies may impinge upon fundamental claims; for instance, REDD programmes have the potential to affect the life of indigenous peoples. However, so far climate change and human rights have basically been kept legally separate, inter alia, because the consequences of hybridisation are largely unexplored and might reshape established political balances.