The heat wave we are experiencing here in Geneva, Turk said, is an immediate reminder of the need for adaptation measures. Without them, human rights will be seriously threatened,” he stated.

He also criticized current production and consumption patterns, calling them “unsustainable” and emphasizing that renewable energy is the way of the future.

While acknowledging progress in this regard, he warned that a clear roadmap is still lacking to achieve a just transformation of our societies, a change that requires “the end of the production and use of fossil fuels” and the restructuring of key sectors such as energy, agriculture, finance, and construction, Turk said.

He insisted on the need to fully integrate gender equality, respect for the rights of indigenous peoples, and corporate accountability into the transition process.

And in this regard, he denounced that fossil fuel corporations continue to spread disinformation and block change through “false solutions and greenwashing.”

The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights also called for action, emphasizing that climate change is not a solution. It’s not just an environmental issue, but a moral and global justice imperative.

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