CHR-NI-2016-0001 Statement of Resource Person, Katherine Lofts by melt water from mountain ranges,49 while extreme weather events, increased temperatures, changes in precipitation, and sea level rise will also impact water supplies for human consumption and agriculture, and harm freshwater ecosystems.50 As the OHCHR notes, “[c]limate change will thus exacerbate existing stresses on water resources and compound the problem of access to safe drinking water, currently denied to an estimated 1.1 billion people globally and a major cause of morbidity and disease.”51 Moreover, the extent to which the right to water is affected will increase as the global mean temperature increases. The IPCC has estimated that a 1C temperature rise would result in approximately 8 percent of the world population experiencing a severe reduction in water resources, while that percentage would rise to 14 percent at 2C warming.52 The right to adequate sanitation is inseparable from the right to water, as poor sanitation is the primary cause of water contamination and diseases linked to water. 53 Climate change effects such as rising sea levels, tropical storms, heat stress, extreme precipitation, flooding, and landslides will all have serious impacts on infrastructure and services related to sanitation, and will in many cases exacerbate existing vulnerabilities.54 For example, in the Philippines, flooding and intense rainfall can damage and contaminate and water sources, increasing the prevalence of illness such as diarrhea, which is one of the primary causes of death for children under five. 55 (v) Right to adequate housing56 Climate change may impact upon the right to housing in many ways. The OHCHR has observed that sea level rise and storm surges are having a direct impact on a number of coastal settlements, threatening homes, critical infrastructure, and other services.57 Settlements in low-lying mega-deltas are also particularly at risk, “as evidenced by the millions of people and homes affected by flooding in recent years.”58 Impacts on the right to housing may also be linked to climate-induced migration. For example, the OHCHR observes that “[t]he erosion of livelihoods, partly caused by climate change, is a main ‘push’ factor for increasing rural to urban migration”, noting that as a result, “[m]any will move to urban slums and informal settlements where they are often forced to build shelters in hazardous areas.”59 49 A/HRC/10/61, supra note 6 at para 29. Ibid; UNEP, supra note 13 at 3. 51 A/HRC/10/61, ibid; A/HRC/31/52 at para 25. 52 IPCC, supra note 32 at 250. 53 General Comment No 15, supra note 48 at para 31. 54 UNEP, supra note 13 at 5. 55 UNICEF Philippines, supra note 1 at 20. 56 See eg: ICESCR, supra note 16 at Art 11. See also: UDHR, supra note 29 at Art 25(1); CERD, supra note 29 at Art 5(e)(iii); CEDAW, supra note 29 at Art 14(2); CRC, supra note 29 at Art 27(3); CRPD, supra note 29 at Arts 9(1)(a), 28(1) and (2)(d). 57 A/HRC/10/61, supra note 6 at para 36. 58 Ibid. 59 Ibid at para 37. UNEP, supra note 13 at 5. 50 8