In June 2025, world leaders, academics, activists, and human rights defenders will unite for one of the most ambitious global gatherings of its kind—the Right Here, Right Now Global Climate Summit. Co-hosted by UN Human Rights in collaboration with the University of Oxford, the Right Here, Right Now Global Climate Alliance, the International Universities Climate Alliance, and leading universities worldwide, the summit underscores the urgent need to place human rights at the center of climate action.
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The summit aims to do more than discuss the climate crisis—it strives to mobilize a new generation of leaders, empower marginalized voices, and drive concrete action that aligns with justice and equity.
A Human Rights-Based Approach to Climate Change
Unlike many climate-focused conferences, the 2025 Summit prioritizes human rights-based solutions. This approach recognizes that climate change is not only an environmental challenge but also a profound human rights issue. Rising sea levels, extreme weather, food insecurity, and forced migration disproportionately affect vulnerable populations, particularly women, Indigenous communities, and those living in poverty.
The summit’s core objectives include:
- Amplifying the voices of environmental human rights defenders, especially those from communities most impacted by climate change.
- Strengthening the global climate justice movement by integrating human rights protections into climate policies.
- Inspiring students and young leaders to advocate for sustainable, equitable climate solutions.
This emphasis ensures that climate action is fair, inclusive, and rooted in global justice rather than short-term interests.
Global Academic Collaboration
- University of the South Pacific
- University of Colorado Boulder
- University of Cape Town
- UNSW Sydney
- Monash University
- University of Nairobi
- Himalayan University Consortium
- University of the West Indies
- University of São Paulo
These institutions will not only host local climate justice events but also co-create content for the global plenary sessions, ensuring regional perspectives are heard.
A 24-Hour Global Plenary: Following the Sun
The cornerstone event of the summit will be a 24-hour hybrid plenary on World Environment Day, 5 June 2025. Beginning at 19:00 UTC on 4 June, the plenary will stream live on the University of Oxford YouTube channel and continue until 20:30 UTC on 5 June.
What makes this format unique is its “follow the sun” approach. As the Earth rotates, responsibility for the summit will shift across time zones, passing the baton from one continent to another. This structure not only maximizes global participation but also reflects the interconnected nature of the climate crisis—no region is untouched, and no nation can face the challenge alone.
Opening Ceremony at Oxford
The summit will launch at the Sheldonian Theatre, University of Oxford, on 4 June. The event will feature keynote speeches from Professor Irene Tracey, Vice-Chancellor of Oxford, and Volker Türk, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights. Alongside academic discussions, the launch will include performances and cultural contributions, emphasizing the role of art and storytelling in mobilizing people for climate justice.
Key Sessions and Themes
Advancing Gender Equality in Climate Action
This session highlights the disproportionate impact of climate change on women, girls, and persons with diverse gender identities. Despite facing heightened vulnerabilities, these groups play vital roles as agents of change. Panelists will emphasize state obligations to ensure access to information, participation, and justice while safeguarding the rights of environmental defenders. The session will argue that gender equality strengthens climate action, making responses more effective and inclusive.
Witness to Impact: Journalism and Climate in South-East Asia
Co-hosted by the UN Human Rights Office for South-East Asia, the Earth Journalism Network, and Creative Migration, this panel examines the role of journalism in advancing climate justice in one of the world’s most climate-vulnerable regions. Reporters and media professionals will discuss challenges such as misinformation, censorship, and safety risks, while also showcasing stories of resilience and advocacy from frontline communities.
Human Rights, Climate Finance, and the Road to $1.3 Trillion
Climate finance remains one of the most contested issues in global negotiations. This session will focus on mobilizing $1.3 trillion in climate finance for mitigation, adaptation, and addressing loss and damage. Panelists will argue that financial ambition must align with human rights obligations, ensuring funds benefit the communities most at risk. Guided by the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, the discussion will stress safeguards that protect people while enabling sustainable development.
Integrating Human Rights into Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) 3.0
Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) represent each country’s climate commitments under the Paris Agreement. This session explores how to integrate human rights into the design, implementation, and monitoring of NDCs. It will highlight the importance of participatory approaches involving Indigenous Peoples, national human rights institutions, and local communities. Panelists will also address how human rights-based NDCs can support a just transition to green economies without leaving workers or vulnerable groups behind.
Inspiring the Next Generation
One of the most significant goals of the 2025 Summit is to inspire students and young leaders worldwide. By engaging universities directly, the summit creates opportunities for academic innovation, grassroots advocacy, and leadership development. Young people will not only attend but also shape discussions, ensuring their voices guide the future of climate policy.
This focus on youth leadership recognizes that today’s students will inherit tomorrow’s climate challenges—and solutions must reflect their vision and values.
Why This Summit Matters
The Right Here, Right Now Global Climate Summit is more than another conference. It serves as a call to action at a critical moment in history. With escalating climate impacts and growing inequalities, the summit insists that climate solutions must uphold human rights.
By linking human rights and climate justice, the summit challenges policymakers, corporations, and communities to go beyond carbon reduction goals. It demands systemic change that addresses who benefits, who bears the costs, and how justice can be achieved globally.
Frequently Asked Questions:
What is the Addressing Climate Change Today: Worldwide Summit?
It is a global event co-hosted by UN Human Rights, the University of Oxford, and international partners to highlight the connection between human rights and climate change while promoting justice-driven climate action.
When will the 2025 Worldwide Summit on Climate Change take place?
The summit will be held on 4–5 June 2025, coinciding with World Environment Day. The 24-hour global plenary will run live across time zones.
What makes this climate summit different from others?
Unlike traditional climate conferences, this summit emphasizes human rights-based solutions to the climate crisis, amplifying voices of vulnerable communities, environmental defenders, and young leaders.
Who is hosting the 2025 summit?
The summit is co-hosted by UN Human Rights, the Right Here, Right Now Global Climate Alliance, the International Universities Climate Alliance, and partner universities worldwide, including Oxford, Cape Town, Nairobi, Monash, and others.
What is the purpose of the 24-hour global plenary?
The plenary will bring together experts, academics, and activists from different regions in a continuous, live-streamed event that “follows the sun” across time zones, ensuring worldwide participation.
Will the summit be available online?
Yes. The launch and plenary sessions will be live-streamed on the University of Oxford YouTube channel, allowing global audiences to join.
How are students and universities involved?
Universities worldwide are hosting local events, contributing to plenary discussions, and encouraging students to take leadership roles in advancing climate justice.
Conclusion
The Addressing Climate Change Today: Worldwide Summit stands as a pivotal moment for uniting science, policy, and human rights. By prioritizing justice, amplifying marginalized voices, and engaging young leaders, the summit reinforces that climate action must go beyond emissions—it must protect people, dignity, and equality. Through its 24-hour global plenary and worldwide academic partnerships, the event embodies a shared commitment to urgent, inclusive, and rights-based solutions. As the world faces intensifying climate impacts, this summit reminds us that progress requires collective responsibility and immediate action—right here, right now.
