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A Call for Climate Action: Protect Human Rights and Decrease Military Expending

31st October 2025

HICC Pic 1

HICC at the Human Rights Council

QUNO participated in the climate and environmental discussions held in the 60^th session Human Rights Council in Geneva. Through its Human Impacts of Climate Change (HICC) programme, QUNO delivered an oral statement on the critical role of human rights in climate action. Additionally, HICC contributed to a discussion on how military activities undermine the right to a healthy environment through their toxic and hazardous impacts.

Lindsey Fielder Cook, HICC’s Representative, served as a panelist in the side event The Toxic Impact of Military Activities alongside the UN Special Rapporteur on Toxics and Human Rights, and representatives from Earthjustice, the Center for Global Nonkilling, and Dejusticia. The event discussed the findings and implications of the Special Rapporteur’s recent report on the human rights impacts of hazardous substances and waste resulting from military operations.

Building on the Quakers Peace Testimony, QUNO emphasized that war is an abomination of human rights and highlighted how this report proves that military activities harm human beings and earth far beyond wartimes. Lindsey also underscored that military activities are responsible for nearly 5.5% of global greenhouse gas emissions. However, countries are not required to report these emissions into their National Determined Contributions (NDCs), nor to the Intergovernmental Pannel on Climate Change (IPCC). These gaps in states’ emission reporting hinder the quality of climate science available for all humanity. [Listen to QUNO’s intervention at minute 14:40]

Daniela Campos, HICC’s Programme Assistant, delivered an oral statement on behalf of the Friends World Committee for Consultation (FWCC) during the Interactive Dialogue on Secretary-General’s Synthesis Report on Climate Change. This report shows how applying a just transition in climate action can create environmentally sustainable economies and societies, decent work opportunities, reduction of inequalities and poverty, and the protection of all human rights.

QUNO expressed its appreciation for the report and echoed the critical message that fairness and justice enhance the success and sustainability of climate policy. At the same time, QUNO called attention to the ongoing increase in fossil fuel production by several states and the rising global expenditure on military activities. The message was clear: humanity needs to stop subsidizing the destruction of earth and its future. [Listen to QUNO’s Oral Statement at mute 02:00:04]

Please find the FWCC full written statement available for download here.

Areas of work: Geneva | Human Impacts of Climate Change

FWCC QUNO Statement HRC 60th

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Applications are Now Open: Quaker United Nations Summer School 2026

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