Integrating Human Rights into Energy and Environment Programming

This project was an assignment for the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) undertaken in 2002-4. It provided an analysis for international treaties and related instruments that dealt with the application of human rights to environmental issues. A survey of UNDP's activities, strengths, weaknesses and gaps in its application of human rights to environmental issues, including resource availability and human rights. These guidelines are to be part of UNDP's strategy to mainstream and operationalise human rights into its key programming areas, including environmental management and energy use.

The document produced by the Institute consists of a 60 page report divided into four main sections. The first part is a review of the main theoretical issues regarding human rights and the environment. It includes a summary of the principle human rights standards that relate to energy and the environment. And it provides case studies of national jurisdiction that has linked environmental degradation to human rights. The second part of the report is more practical. It provides a step-by step guide on how to integrate human rights into energy and environment programmes, and sets out the key elements required for effective rights-based programming. The third part is a presentation of practical experience outside of UNDP. The main issues and challenges that development organisations have faced in integrating human rights into energy and environment programmes is also discussed. The last part of the report consists of a survey of UNDP's activities in the field of environment and energy use from a human rights perspective, identifying strengths, weaknesses and gaps in UNDP programming.