The climate crisis and the rule of law
Recommendation 2214
(2021)
- Author(s):
- Parliamentary Assembly
- Origin
- Assembly
debate on 29 September 2021 (27th sitting) (see Doc. 15353, report of the Committee on Social Affairs, Health and
Sustainable Development, rapporteur: Ms Edite Estrela; and Doc. 15354, opinion of the Committee on Legal Affairs and Human
Rights, rapporteur: Mr Norbert Kleinwaechter). Text adopted by the Assembly on
29 September 2021 (27th sitting).
1. The Parliamentary Assembly refers
to its
Resolution 2399
(2021) “The climate crisis and the rule of law”. The
earth has entered the Anthropocene era and irreversible changes
have been made. Despite the strong commitments made in connection
with the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and
the Paris Agreement, a doomsday scenario cannot be ruled out. The
climate crisis is a local, national, regional and global challenge,
which humankind must face up to.
2. The climate crisis is a systemic threat, which puts institutions
and societies to the test. It questions our ability to react to
risks and vulnerabilities which were not recognised in time for
what they really were. Like the Covid-19 pandemic, this crisis amplifies
the effects of other crises, namely those of society, the economy
and democracy.
3. The Assembly is convinced that the Council of Europe can help
to establish climate resilience in the face of global overheating
by drawing on the rule of law, democracy and human rights. The rule
of law regulates the capacity of institutions to play their role
with due regard for the separation of powers and when faced with adversity.
The Assembly invites the Committee of Ministers to reincorporate
the task of protecting the environment into the Council of Europe’s
intergovernmental activities as a matter of priority.
4. Bearing in mind the huge changes in mentalities and attitudes
required to meet the climate crisis challenge, the Assembly solemnly
emphasises the scale of the efforts required. The remaining opportunities to
tackle the climate crisis will have to be taken over the next nine
years because after that it may be too late. Consequently, the Assembly
calls on the Organisation to mobilise every partner, at local, national,
regional and global levels, to make these changes promptly and to
share the results of their experimentation.
5. The Assembly recommends that the Committee of Ministers:
5.1 incorporate the objectives of
sustainable development and the fight against the climate crisis
into all of the Council of Europe’s activities and operations, including
when preparing strategies and action plans;
5.2 encourage Council of Europe partners, whether from the
public or private sector, to implement the States’ commitments with
regard to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions;
5.3 assess and limit the Council of Europe’s environmental
impact at local, national, regional and international levels so
as to enhance sustainability;
5.4 strengthen co-operation with other international organisations,
in particular the United Nations, the World Health Organization
and the European Union, in order to consolidate efforts to tackle
climate crisis issues.
