Climate crisis and consequences of war: Roth fights for humanitarian standards in Geneva

Climate crisis and consequences of war: Roth fights for humanitarian standards in Geneva

At a time when the world is facing numerous crises, Claudia Roth, Bundestag member of Alliance 90/The Greens, stressed the urgent need to protect humanitarian norms and defend international humanitarian law during the 151st Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) in Geneva. This meeting, which took place from October 18 to 23, 2025, brought important issues such as the protection of civilians and the effects of hunger and climate change to the agenda. Roth makes it clear that these issues are not just abstract concepts, but concrete challenges that concern us all. Loud Bundestag In the current global situation, the cooperation of parliaments is seen as crucial in order to translate international obligations into national law.

The IPU has set itself the task of acting as a bridge between people and politics. Roth emphasizes the importance of the world's parliamentarians coming together to find effective solutions. In Geneva, delegates also discussed designing laws and budgets that ensure safe humanitarian aid. The climate crisis was recognized as a central concern, especially for the affected regions, such as the Pacific island states or Africa. These discourses are all the more relevant when you consider that a separate conference for the climate conference is planned in Belém.

Protection under international humanitarian law

International humanitarian law, as well as the Wikipedia describes, includes basic rules that ensure the protection of people, buildings and the environment during armed conflicts. There are clear rules for protecting civilians and prohibiting the use of weapons that cause unnecessary injury. These norms aim to reduce suffering in wars and protect those who do not or no longer take part in hostilities. A historical review shows: The roots of modern international humanitarian law go back to the founding of the Red Cross in 1863, followed by the first Geneva Red Cross Convention in 1864.

Important principles of international humanitarian law include, among others, that combatants are allowed to attack military targets, while non-combatants enjoy special protection. The use of unnecessary weapons is strictly prohibited. These guidelines help to minimize the risk of unnecessary suffering and set clear limits on military actions.

Current challenges and steps forward

Roth's delegation was also aware of growing concerns about rule violations in various conflicts. The application for the forced adoption of Ukrainian children by Russia as well as the urgency in the area of ​​cybercrime received particular attention. It is noteworthy that 40% of the delegates present were women who are passionate about gender equality. In this context, Germany is perceived as a reliable partner within the international community, with a clear call for concrete action.

In addition, the perspectives of other regions of the world play an important role in political action, for example when it comes to developing resilience in Africa or climate protection in the Pacific Islands. The work of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) is particularly considered essential in this area. The ICRC is an outstanding example of the implementation of humanitarian principles and is committed to meeting these global challenges.

In summary, the 151st Assembly of the IPU in Geneva served not only as a platform for the exchange of ideas, but also as a pointer for the future. The need to re-establish and protect humanitarian norms worldwide is more urgent than ever, and delegates took the next step in this direction.