Climate change threatens to undermine the lives of millions of people, causing instability and conflict. And we all know that the Climate Summit to be held in Paris in late December 2015 will be decisive: it will seal - or not - the commitment of States through the signing of a new treaty that will take over from the Kyoto Agreements. It will concern beyond the previous 12 parties, all UN members
The most vulnerable states will be the first affected by the climate change, the rise in temperature and sea level, drought, floods, effects on biodiversity and human health. These effects will impact on the enjoyment of human rights (right to life, food, health, water, travel in particular). Internal, but also regional and transcontinental migration pose difficult problems to solve without anticipation. It is indisputable that crises will occur to meet the needs of people as well as potential risks of denial of democracy in difficult times
This background and perspective prompted the Committee on Democracy, Social Cohesion and Global Challenges of the Conference of INGOs, in collaboration with the Subcommittee on Energy and Environment of the Parliamentary Assembly, to settle a debate in which will be discussed European and global challenges linked to climate change from the perspective of human rights.