Changes

In August 2013 floods inundated up to one -fifth of Pakistan and affected an estimated 20 million people.<ref>"5 natural disasters that beg for climate action", retrieved from: https://www.oxfam.org/en/campaigns/5-natural-disasters-beg-climate-action#</ref> In 2014, at least 14 extreme weather events were caused by human-induced climate change, including a deadly snowstorm in Nepal and a heat wave in Argentina that crashed power supplies. <ref>"Half of Weather Disasters Linked to Climate Change", retrieved from: http://news.nationalgeographic.com/2015/11/151105-climate-weather-disasters-drought-storms/</ref> Climate change is affecting the life of millions, thereby threatening basic human rights. Coordinated and efficient International Cooperation are key to minimize human influence on climate, as well as to help developing countries - who are affected the most by climate change - to deal with the economical and social damage. How can the EU contribute to this global cause that calls for international solidarity and cooperation as never witnessed before in history?

'''Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions''' have increased dramatically, primarily due to the use of fossil fuels, thus causing an increase in Earth’s average temperature. The impact of this unprecedented warming – including floods, droughts, rising sea levels, spread of diseases such as malaria and dengue fever – are to be more severe and imminent than previously believed and threaten fundamental human rights, such as the right to life, health, water, food, shelter, work and self-determination. In fact, vulnerable groups, including women - which account for 80% of global climate refugees -, children, disabled and indigenous peoples, are particularly at risk.

Sustainable Development is defined as the development that assists the '''needs of today''' without compromising the ability of the '''future generations''' to meet their needs. This definition is based on two key concepts – the '''needs''' of the poor and those who can not cannot provide for basic living standards by themselves; and the '''limitations''' to meet those needs as a result of the environment, the political and social circumstances , and technologic advances. Sustainability policies in the field of climate change need to be centred on the principles of equity and future justice.

The actual objective of the sustainable development concept is to achieve balanced economic, social and environmental development for both developed and developing countries and . Therefore, it should be addressed as a global problem that includes much more variables than just economic growth. The Office of the High Commissioner on Human Rights (OHCHR), noted in its March 2009 study on climate change and human rights.<ref>[https://documents-dds-ny.un.org/doc/UNDOC/GEN/G09/103/44/PDF/G0910344.pdf?OpenElement], “Report of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights on the relationship between climate change and human rights”, retrieved from: https://documents-dds-ny.un.org/doc/UNDOC/GEN/G09/103/44/PDF/G0910344.pdf?OpenElement.</ref> noted that climate change can only be effectively addressed through '''international cooperation''', as it affects disproportionately poorer countries with the weakest ability to protect their citizens. It also emphasizes highlites States’ obligations under international human rights law and the '''[[right to development]]''', proclaimed by the United Nations (UN) in the Declaration on the Right to Development, to protect individuals whose rights are affected by the impacts impact of climate change or by policies to that address climate change. Yet, so far, '''governments and international cooperation have has been unsuccessful in solving the climate change issue.''', since the predictions are still that the earth's average temperature will rise above the 2ºC threshold set as the limit by the Paris Agreement and the devastating consequences of climate change continue to show.

It is also important to take into account the '''historycal responsabilityhistorical responsibility''' that arises due to the disproportion of both GHG emissions, that are and were historically mostly emitted by developed countries, ; and the fact that most of the consequences are being undertaken felt by developing nations. Even though climate change affects every country has a global impact and it will impact affect the lives of everyone, developing countries are mostly affected targeted because of differential factors such as income, race, class, gender, capital and political representation. Thus, following on the '''[[right to development]]''' arises the concept of '''[[climate justice]]''' and of '''common but differentiated responsibilities''', which is central to the climate change regime.