12 Hour Global Climate Justice conference
Navigating the Climate Emergency:
The Role of International Courts and Advisory Opinions
On 22 July 2024, the Climate Clock ticked below 5 years
To mark this moment, Centre for Climate Justice - Bangladesh (CCJ-B), Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL), Environmental Lawyers Collective for Africa, La Ruta Del Clima, Pacific Islands Students Fighting Climate Change, and World’s Youth for Climate Justice organized a Global Climate Justice Conference.
The event recognized the ongoing efforts to obtain Advisory Opinions before the International Court of Justice (ICJ), the Inter-American Court of Human Rights (IACtHR), and the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS).
The conference consisted of six main sessions, with one session dedicated to each of the following regions: the Pacific, South & Southeast Asia, Africa, Europe, the Caribbean, and Latin America. The event will unfold within a 12-hour timeframe.
Check the recordings of the regional sessions below!
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Pacific Leadership and Advocacy in a Global Climate Emergency
The Pacific has for decades been at the forefront of global policy and advocacy on climate change. From being the first to discuss the issue of loss and damage, to being global leaders in driving climate action through international courts and tribunals, the region has demonstrated to the world how to navigate the climate emergency.
Through various bold, and innovative approaches including advisory opinion proceedings before international courts and tribunals, the region is pushing for transformational change in the international legal regime to ably respond to the single greatest threat to the region.
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Human Rights Violations in the Context of Climate Change and Applicable Law
The regional session for Asia will be held online and organized by WYCJ's Asian front in partnership with the Center for Climate Justice-Bangladesh (CCJ-B).
The session will consist of a Panel Discussion on human rights violations in the context of climate change and applicable law, followed by a Q&A.
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Using International Court systems, as a legal pathway towards climate justice in Africa
Environmental Lawyers Collective for Africa and WYCJ Africa organise a session that aims to continue to galvanise interest in the court proceedings amongst African lawyers, youth, community activists, citizenry, and state or policy officials generally.
It will focus awareness on key themes arising out of the ICJ AO process so far:
Loss and Damage
Adaptation & Mitigation
Human Rights and the Environment
Intergenerational Equity
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Climate Justice at the Crossroads: Europe's Role and Responsibilities
Exploring the importance of drawing on human rights law and jurisprudence in addressing the climate crisis, sharing insights on the narrative shaping and movement-building role litigation can play, and more broadly, reflecting on what a climate justice approach might mean in terms of European law and policy, and the potential relevance of the forthcoming ICJ climate advisory opinion for climate justice in Europe and beyond.
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Role of the Caribbean and Caribbean youth over the next 10 years
The Caribbean is one of the most climate-vulnerable regions in the world. This inspired the successful 1.5 to Stay Alive movement, which saw the 1.5 degree clause enshrined in the Paris Agreement. The momentum carried over to the SIDS4 in Antigua and Barbuda in 2024, a month after the IACtHR AO. The SIDS4 was well-subscribed by Caribbean youth, indicating a demand for involvement by residents under 35. In this session, we will look at the existing legal frameworks for youth and intergenerational equity, ongoing youth-led legal campaigns, and raise support for Hurricane Beryl victims.
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Reparaciones por violaciones a derechos humanos en el contexto de la emergencia climática
El 22 de julio de 2024 el Reloj Climático marcará menos de 5 años para limitar el calentamiento global a 1.5ºC. Por ello, algunas organizaciones, activistas y científicos, han declarado dicho día como “Día de Emergencia Climática” para resaltar la urgencia de tomar acciones decisivas que prevengan las consecuencias más devastadoras del cambio climático.
Este año se han visto hitos importantes en las tres opiniones consultivas sobre cambio climático en tribunales internacionales. En mayo, el Tribunal Internacional del Derecho del Mar emitió su Opinión Consultiva, mientras que la Corte Interamericana de Derechos Humanos concluía su etapa oral.
Por su parte, la Corte Internacional de Justicia aún se encuentra en la fase escrita del procedimiento. Es fundamental resaltar los temas que podrían desarrollarse a partir de estas opiniones, especialmente la conexión entre el cambio climático y los derechos humanos.
