Cairo hoped that COP27 would focus on its stated agenda: climate change adaptation. Yet it was human rights concerns—such as jailed pro-democracy activist Alaa Abdel Fattah’s hunger strike and rumors of restricted internet access to human rights platforms—that often stole headlines from climate policy or funding pledges. The persistence of human rights coverage demonstrated that Egypt and many other governments fail to recognize that strong governance, human rights protections, and climate change adaptation are mutually reinforcing and have overlapping policy actions.

International climate change discussions and actions often are not inclusive of all aspects of human security, such as reliable access to food, water, and shelter. Instead, international attention is geared toward mitigation and the promises of green energy technologies. While mitigation is a critical component of addressing climate change, overlooking human security and climate adaptation needs can result in a fraying social contract, weak governance, and insecurity. Poor and vulnerable populations are most exposed to the dire effects of climate change globally, including loss of life and livelihoods. What happened at COP27 holds lessons not only for Egypt, but for the rest of the planet.

Revealing Interconnections

Climate change discussions have increasingly shifted to climate security, encompassing areas of the world that are vulnerable to political instability, turmoil, and exploitation. Regional migration and crop patterns will shift and many governments will grapple with mitigating—and adapting to—these drastic challenges.

The Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region serves as a prime example of a disproportionately vulnerable region experiencing climate change’s consequences. Climate change has negatively impacted the MENA region through alarming heatwaves, droughts, and challenges to agriculture. The adverse effects contribute to regional instability due to poor governance and continued strife amongst various communities. According to the U.S. National Intelligence Council in 2021, MENA states cannot afford the proper adaptation tools. This will inevitably increase frustrations among civilians, especially in rural communities.

While often addressed separately in policy discussions and action, what’s happening in the MENA region shows that climate change and human rights are intrinsically connected—and should be treated as such. These interconnections are clear in many other regions as well. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, a UN body, found that economically, socially, and politically marginalized persons everywhere are especially vulnerable to the effects of climate change. These are also the same people most likely to face human rights abuses and marginalization by their governments. For example, recent floods in Pakistan affected over 33 million people. The flooding was most intense in rural areas, where poverty is concentrated and populations are least able to withstand or adapt to the effects of climate change. Those who survive such incidents face heightened risk of disease and famine as inflation rises, food stocks decrease, and stagnant water slowly resides.

Tackling the Problem

UN member states will have to tackle the inevitable tensions, growing grievances, and obstacles that come with enacting climate change policies. Many countries are starting now, announcing new initiatives during COP27 to advance policies to combat climate change. However, nations still need to take emerging conversations of equipping vulnerable regions with proper adaptation and mitigation tools into account. Pakistan has already asked for compensation from member states due to the irreversible damages they are currently experiencing. The ”loss and damage” initiative will start a new set of conversations on how the international community can conduct proper climate change and security policies in both a tangible and equitable way.

Government and civil society participants should strive to include, elevate, and represent the voices of vulnerable and marginalized populations by strengthening the global discourse on the connection between human rights and climate change. The challenges have been apparent, even at a global convening on climate change. For instance, why did Egypt choose to host COP27 in Sharm el-Sheikh?  One factor might be that it is remote and inaccessible to many poor and marginalized Egyptians, thus giving the government further control of the conference’s narrative.

A first step to rectify this issue could be for UN member states with progressive climate change and human rights policies to advocate for multilateral sessions, funding, and a working group dedicated to climate equity and justice. For instance, the United States could lead an international task force on climate justice and equity, using the National Climate Task Force or the New York Climate Justice Working Group as models. Poor mitigation responses to natural disasters and weak climate adaptation planning can undermine the social contract if populations do not feel represented or protected by their leaders. Governments need to work together to uphold human rights and progressive climate change policies to maintain a democratic international order that can have a sustainable future.

The Missing Puzzle Piece

While the general climate change discussion occur in the a “near-future” tense, many vulnerable countries are already experiencing adverse and irreversible effects of climate change. It’s vital to have tough, yet necessary, conversations with countries that are now on the frontlines of the climate crisis—and those who will soon arrive there. While it is jarring to discuss climate change in a country accused of many human rights violations, much of the general public would not have known Alaa Abdel Fattah’s name and story if his case had remained in the dark. These uncomfortable conversations will make the climate security agenda more comprehensive and provide underrepresented voices a platform to share their stories.

Human rights, security, and equity are inevitable factors that come into play when it comes to enacting innovative climate change policies. Egypt is going to be one of the many nations pushed to the forefront of how it is accomplished.  So perhaps it was useful that a COP27 hosted there shed light on the international community’s efforts to tackle climate change—especially since these conversations are going to get more complex.  As conditions disproportionately worsen around the world, human rights are the essential missing piece of the climate change puzzle for a sustainable and equitable solution.