- Right Here, Right Now Global Climate Summit to bring together global audiences online and in-person in June 2025
- On World Environment Day (5 June), universities from around the world will host a global plenary discussion on human rights and climate change over 24 hours
- The University of Oxford announces a packed schedule of local events and activities, including public lectures, panel discussions, photography exhibits, and interactive workshops
OXFORD, UK, 13, May 2025 – The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (UN Human Rights) and the University of Oxford are proud to unveil the official programme and participating institutions for the 2025 Right Here, Right Now Global Climate Summit. This unprecedented summit will unite voices across continents to advance human rights-based climate solutions.
Unlike traditional summits that convene the world’s experts in a single location, often at great environmental cost, the second Right Here, Right Now Global Climate Summit pioneers a decentralised model that will unite people across the world around a cornerstone online event. First held at the University of Colorado Boulder in December 2022, this year the event will be virtually anchored at Oxford but connected with leading universities around the world - eliminating the need for mass travel and reducing environmental impacts.
Alongside the University of Oxford and UN Human Rights, the 2025 programme will see a number of international institutions, convened by the International Universities Climate Alliance, take a leading role as Summit co-hosts.
The University of Cape Town, University of Colorado Boulder, Himalayan University Consortium, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Monash University, University of Nairobi, Universidade de São Paulo, the University of the South Pacific, UNSW Sydney, and the University of the West Indies, will each participate in the livestream during the online global plenary.
The cornerstone of the multi-day summit, the 24-hour global plenary will take place on 5 June 2025 for World Environment Day.
A series of discussions across time zones to inspire human rights-based climate solutions around the world
Livestreamed on YouTube, the plenary will kick-off in Oxford at the renowned Sheldonian Theatre with an introduction from the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Oxford, Professor Irene Tracey CBE FRS, FMedSci, and the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk. This summit welcome will be followed by a dynamic discussion featuring Alok Sharma, Kate Raworth and Vanessa Nakate among others, and a performance by the Hot Poets.
The plenary baton will then be passed on to the University of the South Pacific, who will spotlight youth perspectives on climate justice and discussions on climate change in the Pacific. The University of the South Pacific’s hosted programme will feature Cynthia Houniuhi, President of Pacific Islands Students Fighting Climate Change, Dr. Eselealofa 'Ese' Apinelu, Tuvaluan High Commissioner to Fiji, and Lenora Qereqeretabua, Deputy Speaker of the Parliament of Fiji.
The Summit’s Australian partners will follow, with Monash University presenting an interactive programme exploring Indigenous perspectives, the human right to health, and the unifying power of music across cultures in Asia and the Pacific. UNSW Sydney will host discussions on the human rights impacts of Australia’s fossil fuel exports and transforming partnership to resilience building through a dialogue on Indigenous Peoples and university engagement. This is followed by a conversation on advancing gender equality in climate action facilitated by UN Human Rights and the International Universities Climate Alliance.
The Himalayan University Consortium will then host a four-way conversation on human rights-based climate action between a community member, a scientist, a policymaker and an Indigenous knowledge holder from countries in the Hindu Kush Himalayas.
Moving through the time zones, the University of Nairobi is set to bring discussions of human rights and just transitions to the fore, as well as delivering talks on human rights-based climate finance and human-rights based climate adaptation and resilience in Africa. The University of Cape Town will then provide insights into the relationship between climate change and human rights in Africa and the ways that teaching and research can advance human-rights based climate action. The International Universities Climate Alliance and UN Human Rights will then convene a discussion on human rights, climate finance and the road to 1.3 trillion.
After that, the KTH Royal Institute of Technology will host a dialogue on how we can reframe the Sustainable Development Goals for a post-2030 world that is centred in human rights and planetary health. The online plenary will then return to Oxford, where topics will include the transformative power of international human rights law in climate action, the role of war in fueling the climate crisis and vice versa, and business and human rights in the green transition. The final conversation facilitated by UN Human Right and the International Universities Climate Alliance will then take place, focusing on integrating human rights in NDCs.
Next, plenary action heads over the Atlantic to the University of Colorado Boulder for a keynote from global advocate for Indigenous rights and health Siila (Sheila) Watt-Cloutier, before the University of the West Indies hosts a session on Caribbean youth perspectives on climate justice. The Universidade de São Paulo closes the event with sessions on addressing deforestation and its contribution to the climate crisis as well as the rights of Indigenous Peoples and the rights of future generations in the context of climate change, including messages from government ministers and the President of COP30, Ambassador André Correia do Lago.
Finally, a closing session led by UN Human Rights will bring together key voices from across the world to share reflections on the global plenary, focusing on human rights-based climate action that can be taken right here, right now.
Full details of the live online global programme are available on the Summit hub.
Inspiring events taking place at Oxford include a photography exhibition in the University’s Weston Library titled ‘Photography for Humanity: A Lens on Climate Justice’ presented by Fotografiska: the contemporary museum of photography art and culture, a late-night event in the Oxford University Museum of Natural History and Pitt Rivers Museum, and creative workshops on climate hope at the Ashmolean Museum and University’s Botanic Garden, as well as a range of other events for students, researchers, and the local community. The summit has already received support from a celebrity coalition that includes Barbra Streisand, Carole King, Annie Lennox, Billie Jean King, Neil Young, Ziggy Marley, Pierce Brosnan, Jack Black, Laura Pausini, Kyra Sedgwick, Margaret Cho, and many more.
More details of the Oxford local programme can also be found on the Summit hub.
ABOUT
Right Here, Right Now Global Climate Alliance
Launched at COP26 in 2021 with global partner UN Human Rights, and supporters that included Leonardo DiCaprio and Quincy Jones, the Right Here, Right Now Global Climate Alliance (RHRN) has emerged as a leading global climate justice initiative. It is a multi-stakeholder movement, driven to promote human rights and climate justice. To drive sustainable change, RHRN collaborates with universities, young people, policymakers, academics, students, scientists, technologists, media professionals, business leaders, universities, young people and influencers from art, music, and sport to advance human rights solutions to the climate crisis. RHRN celebrity-driven social media campaigns to date have collectively reached nearly two billion followers with messages promoting human rights and climate justice.
UN Human Rights
The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (UN Human Rights) is the global partner of the Right Here, Right Now Global Climate Alliance (RHRN). It represents the world’s commitment to the promotion, protection, and realization of the full range of human rights and fundamental freedoms set out in international human rights instruments, including the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Through the voice and the work of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, and a staff of 2,000 in 92 countries, the Office aims to make human rights a reality in the lives of people everywhere. Fighting climate change is at the very heart of the Office´s mandate, as it already negatively affects the human rights of millions of people around the world – human rights such as those to food, water, housing, health, decent work, development, a healthy environment, and even life itself.
University of Oxford
Oxford University has been placed number 1 in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings for the eighth year running, and number 3 in the QS World Rankings 2024. At the heart of this success are the twin pillars of our ground-breaking research and innovation and our distinctive educational offer.
Oxford is world-famous for research and teaching excellence and home to some of the most talented people from across the globe. Our work helps the lives of millions, solving real-world problems through a huge network of partnerships and collaborations. The breadth and interdisciplinary nature of our research alongside our personalised approach to teaching sparks imaginative and inventive insights and solutions.
International Universities Climate Alliance
The International Universities Climate Alliance (IUCA) represents leading climate research universities from across 23 countries who are committed to accelerating action on climate change. Universities are uniquely placed to share knowledge and expertise, not only in climate science, but in related research fields including adaptation and mitigation. We believe it is through globally coordinated collaboration that we can create greater insight and action.
CONTACT
Kaylois Henry
United Nation Human Rights
Rebekah Alperin
Right Here, Right Now Global Climate Alliance
Lizzie Dunthorne
University of Oxford
Chaseley Cameron
International Universities Climate Alliance
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