"Dispatches: Climate Pact Recognizes Rights, Now the Work Begins"

…[T]he ultimate goal of this agreement is…to protect the most vulnerable people who are and will be most affected by the effects of climate change…[A] global agreement on climate change explicitly addresses some of these concerns. In its preamble, the new climate pact acknowledges “that climate change is a common concern of humankind” and that parties should “respect, promote and consider” human rights…[R]eiterating the importance of human rights in the response to climate change marks a shift in the understanding of climate change and the way that it needs to be confronted…[T]he integration of human rights into the agreement had been under fire…Only a strong push from civil society organizations…in support of the language saved the reference to human rights…As governments implement the agreement…efforts need to be made to ensure that marginalized populations participate in planning, that rights are respected, and that there is transparency and accountability…