At the invitation extended by the Greek Ombudsman Andreas Pottakis, the Human Rights Ombudsman Peter Svetina is currently attending the session of the General Assembly of the Association of Mediterranean Ombudsmen (AOM) in Nafplio, Greece. The central topics of this year’s meeting, which is taking place under the slogan “Mediterranean: from the Sea that separates us to the Sea that unites us”, include migration, climate change and sustainable recovery. The ombudsmen from the region have established excellent collaboration, and strengthened ties further still during the pandemic. The Slovenian Ombudsman, who is also a member of the AOM Governing Board, led a panel discussion about sustainable and equitable use of energy sources. 

Institutions of ombudsmen in countries of the Mediterranean region have different competences in relation to the authorities that make decisions, prepare strategies and implement specific measures aimed at achieving energy neutrality by 2050 and reducing the impact of climate change. Through these processes, the authorities can either directly or indirectly impact the defence of human rights. “Institutions of ombudsmen serve as an informal counterbalance to this threat, while our influence on the authorities’ decisions is sometimes more, sometimes less prominent, and sadly often not even heard,” said Ombudsman Peter Svetina, and called on his colleagues to take an active and decisive stance against climate change. “Climate change is the most complex challenge facing humanity in modern times. If we genuinely want to lay healthy foundations for future generations and ensure a sustainable and just transition to a carbon-free society, we must start working on these goals vigorously,” Ombudsman stated.

According to Svetina, this is one of the greatest trials faced by decision-makers to date, and the main indicator of future success (or lack thereof) will be an appropriate level of social consensus at the micro level, i.e. among individuals. “From the aspect of climate change, the distresses of individual groups are multi-layered, ranging from short-term ones, such as job losses in the traditional industries of manufacturing, oil processing or mining, to medium- and long-term ones, such as diminished reliability and safety of the drinking water and food supply, growing energy costs, health issues due to rising temperatures, the greater likelihood of being affected by extreme weather events, etc.,” Ombudsman noted.