Does the voluntary nature of INDCs conflict with States’ obligations on human rights? Summary: States’ human rights obligations are generally owed to individuals within their jurisdictions and not to other States. Accordingly, to the extent that human rights oblige States to address climate change, any such obligation is owed to individuals and …

If and to what extent does the process of submitting Intended Nationally Determined Contributions that reflect states’ voluntary efforts to address climate change conflict with the science-based approach under public international law? Summary: The science-based approach under the UNFCCC does not affect the validity or political relevance of voluntary …

Can  you Please advise on possible scenarios for integrating nationally determined contributions (NDCs) into the new 2015 agreement, such as an annex document, a COP decision or registry? Summary: The following scenarios are available for integration of NDCs into the 2015 agreement: NDCs in a legally binding Annex or national schedules to a treaty …

If the agreed outcome is not in a form of a protocol, do we need to amend the UNFCCC itself as the Convention does refer to protocol in art 8,17,19 and 25? Advice: It is unlikely that the UNFCCC would need to be amended. However, the relationship between the UNFCCC and the agreed upon outcome […]

1. Under the UNFCCC developed country Parties have agreed to support the adaptation to climate change impacts in developing countries. If developing countries as part of their INDCs commit to national adaptation efforts in a legally binding form does this modify existing obligations (or other arrangements) under the Convention? 2. If so, what additional …