Legal AI for Energy Transition in the Context of Climate Change in Line with a Human Rights-Based Approach Human Rights-Based Approach (Using BRICS Countries as an Example)

To effectively address climate change and its severe implications for the realization of human rights, an urgent energy transition is imperative. However, for this transition to occur at the necessary scale and speed while fulfilling its commitments, it must be grounded in respect for human rights. This consideration is particularly crucial within the context of the energy transition, where artificial intelligence, biotechnology, and the shift towards more sustainable renewable energy sources are assuming significant roles. Moreover, the consequences of climate change intensify social disparities and inequalities, disproportionately affecting already marginalized individuals, groups, and communities, including women, children, indigenous populations, and persons with disabilities. Consequently, modern technologies may remain inaccessible to a substantial portion of the population. In this regard, it is interesting to analyze how the human rights focus in the context of climate change and energy transition is reflected in various interstate associations and organizations, also consider their documents are being adopted in this area, as well as what instruments are being developed to adopt and combat climate change at the international and national level. This article seeks to examine the submissions made by BRICS nations within the context of the United Nations human rights framework and their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) as specified in the Paris Agreement. The aim is to discern how these states conceptualize the intersection of human rights and climate change issues and to draw pertinent conclusions regarding the measures undertaken by these nations for energy transition. Such a transition demands extensive systemic transformations that foster sustainable consumption patterns, guarantee fair access to renewable energy sources, and prioritize the welfare of both humanity and the natural environment, all in alignment with international human rights law and the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights. © 2025 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.