Human Rights and Security Impacts of Climate Change and the African Climate Action Strategy

2015 ◽  
Author(s):  
Muhammed Tawfiq Ladan
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Human Rights ◽  
Action Strategy ◽  
African Climate ◽  
Climate Action ◽  
Impacts Of Climate Change

scholarly journals Cascading impacts of climate change and the rights of children in Africa: A reflection on the principle of intergenerational equity

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Rongedzayi Fambasayi ◽  
Michael Addaney
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Regional Climate ◽  
Children's Rights ◽  
Intergenerational Equity ◽  
Children’S Rights ◽  
Best Interests ◽  
Rights Of The Child ◽  
Sustainable Future ◽  
Climate Action ◽  
Impacts Of Climate Change

SUMMARY This article explores the manner in which climate action at the African regional level protects and promotes children's rights with considerations being had to the principle of intergenerational equity. It establishes that while the concept of intergenerational equity is entrenched in the international and African regional climate change framework for the protection of children, neither the Convention on the Rights of the Child nor the African Children's Charter mentions the concept. However, CRC and the African Children's Charter oblige states to take into consideration the views of children and protect their best interests in climate action (to ensure intergenerational equity) and in achieving a sustainable future. Using a doctrinal research method, the article examines the regional legal and institutional responses to the cascading impacts of climate change and how they safeguard children's rights to a sustainable future. It proceeds to critically analyse child rights-responsive provisions in the African Children's Charter that could potentially enhance the utility of the principle of intergenerational equity in the context of climate action in Africa. The article argues that the principle of intergenerational equity could, in theory, be used as a useful tool for the protection and promotion of the rights and interests of children from climate change impacts. Key words: children's rights; climate change; climate justice; future generations; intergenerational equity

scholarly journals Human rights v. Insufficient climate action: The Urgenda case

2019 ◽  
Vol 37 (2) ◽  
pp. 112-118 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ingrid Leijten
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Human Rights ◽  
Case Law ◽  
European Convention ◽  
Court Of Appeals ◽  
Ex Post ◽  
European Court ◽  
Climate Action ◽  
Ex Post Facto ◽  
Rights Issue

Climate change is a human rights issue, but what exactly can courts require States to do in this regard? This contribution discusses the Dutch Urgenda case, in which the Court of Appeals recently found a violation of Articles 2 (right to life) and 8 (right to respect for private and family life) of the European Convention on Human Rights and ordered the State to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 25% by 2020. Looking at the case law of the European Court of Human Rights on environmental issues, as well as the nature of positive obligations, it appears that Urgenda involves a more abstract situation and a more precise positive obligation than is usually the case in human rights adjudication. Because ex post facto complaints are no solution, and in light of the growing number of Urgenda-like cases pending before (international) courts, efforts need to be made to ensure that human rights `fit' climate change cases and courts can provide effective protection in this regard.

scholarly journals Perceived Cultural Impacts of Climate Change Motivates Climate Action and Support for Climate Policy

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kim-Pong Tam ◽  
Angela Leung ◽  
Brandon Koh
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Climate Policy ◽  
The United States ◽  
Political Orientation ◽  
Communication Strategy ◽  
Public Understanding ◽  
Student Sample ◽  
Cultural Impacts ◽  
Climate Action ◽  
Impacts Of Climate Change

The impacts of climate change on human cultures receive increasing attention in recent years. However, the extent to which people are aware of these impacts, whether such awareness motivates climate action, and what kinds of people show stronger awareness are rarely understood. The present investigation provides the very first set of answers to these questions. In two studies (with a student sample with N = 198 from Singapore and a demographically representative sample with N = 571 from the United States), we observed a generally high level of awareness among our participants. Most important, perceived cultural impacts of climate change robustly predicted intentions to engage in climate change mitigation behavior and climate activism, as well as support for climate policy. We also found expected associations between perceived cultural impacts and psychological and demographic variables (e.g., cosmopolitan orientation, moral inclusion, political orientation). These findings not only add a cultural dimension to the research on public understanding of climate change but also reveal a viable application of cultural frames as an effective climate communication strategy.

scholarly journals Youth Engagement in Climate Change Action: Case Study on Indigenous Youth at COP24

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (16) ◽  
pp. 6299
Author(s):  
Makenzie MacKay ◽  
Brenda Parlee ◽  
Carrie Karsgaard
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Leadership Development ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Youth Engagement ◽  
Remote Communities ◽  
Indigenous Youth ◽  
Climate Action ◽  
Impacts Of Climate Change

While there are many studies about the environmental impacts of climate change in the Canadian north, the role of Indigenous youth in climate governance has been a lesser focus of inquiry. A popularized assumption in some literature is that youth have little to contribute to discussions on climate change and other aspects of land and resource management; such downplay of youth expertise and engagement may be contributing to climate anxiety (e.g., feelings of hopelessness), particularly in remote communities. Creating opportunities for youth to have a voice in global forums such as the United Nations Conference of Parties (COP24) on Climate Change may offset such anxiety. Building on previous research related to climate action, and the well-being of Indigenous youth, this paper shares the outcomes of research with Indigenous youth (along with family and teachers) from the Mackenzie River Basin who attended COP24 to determine the value of their experience. Key questions guiding these interviews included: How did youth impact others? and How did youth benefit from the experience? Key insights related to the value of a global experience; multiple youth presentations at COP24 were heard by hundreds of people who sought to learn more from youth about their experience of climate change. Additional insights were gathered about the importance of family and community (i.e., webs of support); social networks were seen as key to the success of youth who participated in the event and contributed to youth learning and leadership development.

scholarly journals The future of climate policymaking in light of Urgenda Foundation v the Netherlands

2020 ◽  
Vol 22 (2) ◽  
pp. 119-124
Author(s):  
Irene Antonopoulos
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Human Rights ◽  
The Netherlands ◽  
Supreme Court ◽  
European Convention ◽  
Climate Action ◽  
State Obligations ◽  
Tackle Climate Change ◽  
Definition Of ◽  
Dutch Supreme

The decision of the Dutch Supreme Court in The State of the Netherlands v Urgenda Foundation represents a breakthrough and a step forward in addressing the human rights aspects of climate change. The significance of the case has been recognised by commentators and the UN Human Rights Commissioner, who asked for a repeat of Urgenda’s journey in other jurisdictions. Despite the implication that other states have similar obligations to those construed by the Dutch Supreme Court, the influence of the case in other jurisdictions is yet to be seen. This article recognises the significance of the Urgenda case to the definition of state obligations to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions as part of their commitments under the European Convention on Human Rights. In particular, the article discusses the progress made in interpreting Articles 2 and 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights in clarifying state obligations to take decisive measures to tackle climate change in line with their climate action commitments.

‘Eaten by the sea’: human rights claims for the impacts of climate change upon remote subnational communities

2018 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 171-193
Author(s):  
Miriam Cullen
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Human Rights ◽  
National Policy ◽  
Primary Case ◽  
Nation States ◽  
The People ◽  
The Pacific ◽  
Form Part ◽  
Impacts Of Climate Change

The low-lying islands and atolls of the Pacific have been among the first places to experience the most severe impacts of anthropogenic climate change. Some of the affected islands are nation-states possessing the capacity to negotiate treaties and to directly participate in international forums such as the United Nations (UN). Others, however, are subnational jurisdictions, made up of people who live remote from the governing majority and yet are extremely vulnerable to national policy decisions, especially when it comes to climate change and its impacts. This article examines one potential avenue for redress for minority populations living in remote subnational jurisdictions where national policy on climate change arguably compromises their human rights: a communication to the UN Human Rights Committee (HRC). The article takes as its primary case study the people of the Torres Strait Islands, which form part of the state of Australia.

scholarly journals Climate Change Litigation and Human Rights: Pushing the Boundaries

Climate Law ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. 244-262 ◽  
Author(s):  
Annalisa Savaresi ◽  
Juan Auz
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Human Rights ◽  
Environmental Context ◽  
Paris Agreement ◽  
Human Rights Law ◽  
Future Developments ◽  
State Actors ◽  
Tackle Climate Change ◽  
Made In ◽  
Impacts Of Climate Change

The adoption of the Paris Agreement has prompted a flurry of climate change litigation, both to redress the impacts of climate change and to put pressure on state and non-state actors to adopt more ambitious action to tackle climate change. The use of human rights law as a gap-filler to provide remedies where other areas of the law do not is not new, especially in the environmental context. It is therefore not a surprise that human rights arguments are increasingly being made, and human rights remedies increasingly being sought, in climate change litigation. While relatively few cases have been argued on human rights grounds so far, the trend is continuing and accelerating, with some striking results. This article takes stock of human rights arguments made in climate change litigation to date to gauge what they reveal about the evolving relationship between human rights and climate change law—and about possible future developments.

Climate Justice: Holding Governments and Business Accountable for the Climate Crisis

2019 ◽  
Vol 113 ◽  
pp. 197-201
Author(s):  
Kristin Casper
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Human Rights ◽  
Fossil Fuel ◽  
Business Leaders ◽  
Climate Justice ◽  
The World ◽  
Fossil Fuel Industry ◽  
Fuel Industry ◽  
Climate Crisis ◽  
Impacts Of Climate Change

People around the world are already experiencing the impacts of climate change, and their human rights are under threat. Greenpeace's Climate Justice and Liability Campaign is collaborating with a growing number of communities to reclaim their rights through strategic climate litigation. Three themes run throughout these efforts. First, the climate breakdown is a human rights crisis. Second, political and business leaders must take immediate action or risk being sued. Third, there is mounting evidence that the fossil fuel industry is significantly responsible for the climate crisis and will ultimately be held accountable. Before exploring these themes, it is useful to understand the origins of Greenpeace International's climate justice efforts.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document