REDESCA expresses solidarity for the catastrophic losses suffered by the population from the wildfires in Los Angeles and other areas of California

January 17, 2025

Washington, DC—The Special Rapporteurship on Economic, Social, Cultural, and Environmental Rights (REDESCA) of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) expresses its profound concern over the wildfires currently affecting Los Angeles and other areas in California. These fires have caused multiple and devastating impacts that remain difficult to quantify, severely compromising the human rights of the affected persons, including their rights to life, health, housing, and a healthy environment, in addition to resulting in significant biodiversity loss and damage to natural resources.

REDESCA expresses solidarity with the victims of the wildfires and with the government of the United States, deeply lamenting the loss of human lives. Thousands of individuals have also been displaced and many structures destroyed, now exceeding 12,000. Additionally, more than 16,000 hectares have been devastated, causing severe damage to biodiversity and ecosystems, including the loss of ancient trees, flora, and local fauna. This disaster remains ongoing, as several wildfire hotspots continue to burn and have not been fully contained, largely due to the intensity of the winds, which have significantly hindered containment efforts.

Although wildfires are recurrent in Los Angeles and Southern California, their occurrence in January is highly unusual. This year, the magnitude of the tragedy has reached unprecedented levels due to a combination of climatic factors, including heatwaves and abnormal drought indices. High atmospheric evaporation has rapidly dried vegetation, increasing its flammability, which, coupled with the strong Santa Ana winds, has facilitated the spread of the fire. These events reflect the interconnected and cascading effects of climate change, where various factors amplify each other, creating unprecedented threats.

REDESCA takes note of the measures adopted by the State, including the presidential declaration of a major disaster issued at the request of the Governor of California. This declaration enables the mobilization of federal assistance funds to support state and local governments in covering the costs associated with the emergency response. It also includes individual assistance programs for affected individuals and businesses, such as temporary housing and financial support for the reconstruction of destroyed properties.

REDESCA also takes note of the use of advanced technologies to monitor the spread of the wildfires in real-time and commends the efforts to keep the population informed. These efforts include mapping with key information about affected areas, destroyed and damaged structures, evacuation orders or warnings by area, available evacuation centers, scheduled road closures, family assistance centers, and allocated resources. Additionally, measures to ensure the water supply to affected areas are highlighted, although in some cases firefighters faced challenges due to the scarcity of this resource.

REDESCA expresses its concern over reports indicating that, in recent years, insurers in California have significantly reduced the issuance and renewal of millions of home insurance policies in areas considered to be at high risk for wildfires. It has also taken note of official reports highlighting the challenges of availability and accessibility to residential insurance in California, particularly in high-risk areas.

Although the negative effects of climate change represent a particularly significant cause of the referenced wildfires, factors such as demographic growth and unsustainable land management policies exacerbate the risk, increasing the vulnerability of areas like Los Angeles and other parts of California. This scenario has prompted authorities to intensify reconstruction efforts. However, beyond mitigating the immediate impact of this tragedy and continuing to assist the victims, REDESCA urges a rethinking of territorial management policies within the context of the climate emergency. Additionally, it is suggested to review the regulation of business activities to prioritize their social function, ensuring that their operations respect and guarantee human rights, while incorporating due diligence mechanisms to prevent and mitigate adverse impacts.

The Special Rapporteurship on Economic, Social, Cultural, and Environmental Rights is an office established by the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) with the objective of strengthening the promotion and protection of economic, social, cultural, and environmental rights in the Americas, leading the Commission's efforts in this area. 

No. RD014/25

4:30 PM