Climate Change as a Human Rights Crisis: Legal Duties of States under International Law

Climate change is increasingly recognized not merely as an environmental challenge but as a profound human rights crisis. Rising global temperatures, sea-level rise, and extreme weather events directly undermine fundamental rights, including the rights to life, health, food, water, and housing, as protected under international human rights instruments. The purpose of this study is to examine the legal duties of states under international law in addressing the human rights impacts of climate change. Employing a doctrinal research methodology, the article analyses key treaties such as the ICCPR, ICESCR, UNFCCC, and Paris Agreement, alongside customary principles like the duty to prevent transboundary harm. Jurisprudence from bodies such as the Human Rights Committee and regional courts, including Urgenda v. Netherlands and Torres Strait Islanders v. Australia, further demonstrates the emerging accountability framework. The findings suggest that states have binding obligations to respect, protect, and fulfill human rights through climate action, though enforcement remains fragmented and inconsistent. The study concludes that framing climate change as a human rights crisis not only strengthens the normative force of international obligations but also compels states to adopt rights-based approaches to mitigation, adaptation, and global cooperation. Climate change has emerged as one of the most profound challenges of the 21st century, not only as an environmental issue but also as a crisis of human rights. Rising temperatures, sea-level rise, extreme weather events, and ecosystem collapse directly threaten the enjoyment of fundamental human rights, including the rights to life, health, food, water, and shelter. International law, particularly human rights law, environmental treaties, and customary obligations, imposes legal duties upon states to prevent, mitigate, and adapt to climate change. This article explores the framing of climate change as a human rights crisis, analyses the evolving jurisprudence of international and regional bodies, and evaluates the extent to which states are legally bound to protect human rights in the face of environmental degradation.