One major challenge for climate action today is the limited integration of human rights into climate decision-making. The environment is often treated as a secondary concern, while in reality it is fundamental to people’s lives: it affects their health, access to clean water and food, and even their right to life. Despite this, political and economic interests continue to dominate international climate negotiations. Climate change is still framed within national borders, despite its cross-border impacts affecting people globally. It should be seen as a collective responsibility rather than a solely national concern. The main issue is treating the environment as a single discipline, when it should be addressed in an interdisciplinary manner that encompasses human rights and international law.

To overcome this challenge, climate action must adopt a strong rights-based approach that ensures public participation, justice, and accountability.

As a journalist and researcher, I dedicate my work to uncovering environmental harm and advocating for climate justice in Lebanon and the MENA region. I currently serve as the Environmental Editor at Daraj Media, where I lead investigations on environmental issues including climate change and its impact on human rights – a topic often undermined in Arab media coverage. As a specialist in human rights, I aim to bridge international policies with local realities, informing policymaking and raising awareness among people about their climate footprint. I advocate for integrating international climate obligations as well as human rights obligations into national environmental policies, pushing for accountable climate action in the MENA region.