[In-Depth Look] Human Rights Violations of Farmers Caused by Climate Change

In 2020, every place in the world except Antarctica was afflicted by the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19). However, Antarctica was no exception when it came to abnormal climate. The intensification of abnormal climate marked the year as a difficult one not only for humans but also for plants and animals. In South Korea, there were particularly many reports about plants and animals suffering and dying due to a cold spring frost, the longest rainy season and typhoons, abnormal temperatures continuing through autumn and early winter, and sudden cold waves. Farmers and livestock producers also faced hardships. Although the economy was in serious crisis due to COVID-19, the National Assembly adopted a resolution declaring a climate emergency, and the President announced the '2050 Net Zero (carbon neutrality) declaration' because it was recognized that the crisis caused by climate change was imminent. Globally, it was a year in which declarations were made by not only the European Union (EU), which had been leading climate action, but also the United States, China, Japan, and others, stating that policies and industries would move toward a decarbonized society.

Frequent natural disasters caused by climate change also infringe on people's fundamental rights. This is not only a human rights issue for island nations threatened by rising sea levels but also a human rights issue for all citizens in South Korea, including farmers, livestock producers, fishers, workers, and residents of small-room villages. In particular, those mentioned above are vulnerable groups most exposed to climate threats. Representing their voices, a petition regarding human rights violations caused by climate change was filed with the National Human Rights Commission. The 41 petitioners who participated in this petition each submitted a statement describing the climate crisis they personally experienced and how their human rights were violated and threatened as a result. Especially in agriculture, this issue goes beyond individual occupations to a public interest area concerning the nation's food supply and citizens' right to food, indicating an urgent need for fundamental measures. Human rights violations of farmer petitioners are also occurring.

Corporation Duru Lawyer Jihyun Young (Source: Corporation Duru Homepage)

Farmers have reported that in the past 5 to 6 years, abnormal climate phenomena have occurred with unpredictable intensity and frequency, causing a rapid decrease in harvest yields. Disaster insurance covers limited items, has expensive premiums, and provides relatively low compensation. In particular, this year, due to changes in policy terms, compensation rates for apples, pears, and persimmons were drastically reduced from 80% to 50%. Due to warming, the main production areas of agricultural products are noticeably shifting, and farmers have been required to switch to different crops rather than those they have cultivated their entire lives. However, most cases involve maintaining existing crops by using more pesticides and reluctantly transitioning. This is because it takes a long time to prepare the land and acquire the skills to cultivate new crops. As pest and disease damage increases, overall pesticide use is also rising. Consequently, farmers’ incomes decrease, and their exposure to pesticides increases. This will also affect the health of consumers. The health damage to farmers working in extreme weather such as heatwaves and heavy rain was severe. Due to rural aging, petitioners in their 60s said that while they could still endure, farmers in their 70s and 80s sometimes died from heatstroke and other causes.

Farmers already knew from their experience over several years that this problem was not a special disaster unique to this year. Because of this, they expressed uncertainty about how much longer they could continue farming, which has been a family business and a source of pride. The climate crisis and the government’s passive response are thus infringing on farmers’ rights to life, health, and freedom of occupation. Our human rights, which depend on the food produced by farmers’ sweat, are also at stake. While strengthening industrial investment to transition to a decarbonized society is important, it is also a crucial role of the state to respond in ways that prevent human rights violations of its citizens.