Why common values across the United Nations system should underpin the global response to climate change

<ns3:p>Climate change raises not only scientific and economic challenges but also profound ethics questions, particularly where health and human well-being are at stake. The United Nations (UN) system has issued a wide range of instruments in response, yet the values embedded in these texts have not been systematically mapped. This article examines how ethics values are articulated across UN climate, health, bioethics, and humanitarian instruments, highlighting their role in shaping legitimacy and guiding global action. Drawing on a purposive sample of treaties, resolutions, frameworks, and declarations related to climate change, the study brings together dispersed references to ethics into a coherent picture. The resulting map shows how normative commitments underpin UN climate governance and reveal linkages across domains. Recognising these values can align efforts across UN bodies and identify areas requiring further action, offering decision-makers both a shared language and a practical roadmap for fairer and more effective climate responses.</ns3:p>