A/75/298 I. Introduction Climate change, culture and cultural rights 1. Even during the COVID-19 pandemic, which commands so much international attention, the climate emergency remains one of the greatest threats that humanity has ever faced and must be addressed with urgency. 2 While infection rates climbed around the world, so too did record temperatures. 3 Climate change-related disasters such as locust swarms and floods hit populations already contending with the virus. “We find ourselves living in a time when we must take on two vital tasks simultaneously – battling the acute trauma of COVID-19 while addressing the chronic crisis of climate change.” 4 We cannot wait until the pandemic is over. The climate emergency remains an existential threat to life, to human rights and to human cultures. This is why the Special Rapporteur has decided to focus her report on the nexus of climate change, culture and cultural rights. 2. The mandate on cultural rights was established to protect not culture and cultural heritage per se, but rather the conditions allowing all people, without discrimination, to access, participate in and contribute to cultural life through a process of continuous development. These conditions are greatly jeopardized by the climate emergency. “The universality of human rights, including cultural rights, has no meaning today without a liveable environment in which they can be enjoyed.” 5 Climate change is having and will continue to have a grave impact on the cultures and cultural heritages of all humankind and hence on the related human rights of billions of people. While most human rights are affected by climate change, cultural rights are particularly drastically affected, in that they risk being simply wiped out in many cases. This reality has not been adequately acknowledged in current climate change initiatives. It must be recognized as a matter of international legal obligation and addressed as a priority. 3. These effects on cultural rights are already visible. During the Special Rapporteur’s mission to Maldives, she visited a centuries-old cemetery reportedly containing the graves of those involved in bringing Islam to Maldives. That cemetery is less than 100 metres from the ocean; sea level is rising. Locals fear the site will be gone in 10 years. A 15-year-old Maldivian environmental and cultural heritage activist said to the Special Rapporteur on that site: “I fear for the survival of my country.” 6 No one, least of all a young person, should have to face such fears. 4. In Tuvalu, the Special Rapporteur visited the country’s only library, 20 metres from the shore and threatened by sea level rise. She met the librarian determined to save its collection. It contains historical documents such as the letter officially recognizing the country’s independence, but also meteorological and tide records that are critical tools for climate research. Its loss would impact Tuvaluans most, but would also harm us all. A Tuvaluan official asked: “If we are not here anymore, what will happen to our culture?” __________________ 2 3 4 5 6 20-10595 See www.ohchr.org/EN/NewsEvents/Pages/OHCHRanalyticalstudyClimateChange.aspx . See, e.g. World Weather Attribution, “Prolonged Siberian heat of 2020” (15 July 2020). Available at www.worldweatherattribution.org/wp-content/uploads/WWA-Prolonged-heat-Siberia2020.pdf. Joyce Lee, “Earth Day during COVID-19: green tips for closed museums”, American Alliance of Museums, 22 April 2020. A/73/227, para. 38. A/HRC/43/50/Add.2, para. 79. 3/23