By Abigael Gioche
The Right Here, Right Now (RHRN) Global Climate Summit, hosted by the United Nations Human Rights and the University of Oxford, themed “Advancing the Conversation around Climate Change and Human Rights,” is set to commence today, June 4th.
The RHRN summit emphasizes the need for climate solutions anchored in human rights.
Volker Turk, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, highlighted the importance of the summit, stating, “The climate crisis is fundamentally a human rights crisis. This summit amplifies the voices of those most affected and demands justice-centred climate action that leaves no one behind.”
With Oxford University as the virtual anchor, the summit brings together institutions worldwide, such as the University of Nairobi and the University of Cape Town, which will host global events. This model drives global inclusivity by amplifying their voices.
“By bringing together diverse elements of the climate justice and human rights movements, I hope that the Right Here, Right Now Global Climate Summit will catalyze a global dialogue that leads to concrete actions and commitments,” United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Turk asserted the impact of diversity.
At the core of the summit is a 24-hour Global Plenary on World Environment Day, June 5. The Plenary is tailored to engage audiences across all time zones.
The broadcast will spotlight urgent topics like just transitions, Indigenous rights, and climate finance, stressing the disproportionate impact of climate change on marginalized communities.
The University of Nairobi will facilitate a key regional session titled “Human Rights and Just Transitions in Africa” on June 5, 2025, aligning with World Environment Day. This session aims to accelerate just transitions in Africa by integrating human rights and research-into-action approaches.
The summit will run up to June 7.