Climate Change Priorities on Health, Human Rights & Labor

Climate change does not only disrupt the environment: it also has profound human impacts. Key areas of concern include health, labour, and human rights. The Climate Vulnerable Forum (CVF), with its 48 members from around the globe, is advocating for these rapidly growing repercussions to be tackled effectively. These efforts are notably directed towards strengthening the multilateral response to climate change from the key UN bodies and agencies based in Geneva. Home to organizations such as the World Health Organization (WHO), the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) and the International Labor Organization (ILO), Geneva is a crucial hub to materialize concrete action on these pressing issues.

As part of this effort, the Bangladesh Presidency of the Forum, through its Permanent Mission in Geneva, is convening a virtual event on Tuesday, 9 February 2021. The webinar, entitled “Climate Change Priorities on Health, Human Rights and Labour”, aims at reinvigorating the global discourse on climate change and reminding the international community of the importance of effective climate actions to tackle the increasing impacts of climate change. Prominent representatives of Geneva-based international organizations, as well as diplomats from CVF countries and others will share their thoughts on the interlinkages between climate and health, human rights and labour. The event will include remarks by the following speakers:

• H. E. Dr. A. K. Abdul Momen, M.P., Honorable Foreign Minister of Bangladesh
• Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the World Health Organization
• Ms. Nada Al-Nashif, UN Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights of the OHCHR
• Ms. Martha E. Newton, Deputy Director-General for Policy of the International Labour Organization
• H.E. Mr. Mohamed Nasheed, Honorable Speaker of the People’s Majlis of the Maldives and CVF Thematic Ambassador for Ambition
• Ms. Saima Wazed Hossain, Member of the WHO Expert Advisory Panel on mental health and CVF Thematic Ambassador for Vulnerability
• H.E. Ms. Monique T.G. Van Daalen, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Geneva
• H.E. Mr. Julian Braithwaite, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland in Geneva
• H.E. Mr. Gian Lorenzo Cornado, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Italy in Geneva
• H.E. Mr. Zenebe Kebede Korcho, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Ethiopia in Geneva
• H.E. Mr. Samuel Lanwi, Deputy Permanent Representative of the Republic of the Marshall Islands in Geneva

The discussion will be moderated by H.E. Mr. Md. Mustafizur Rahman, the Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Bangladesh in Geneva.