Legal Blog
The WYCJ Legal blog publishes contributions on the climate crisis and its impacts on youth's rights and the environment.
We try to enhance collaboration between actors—lawyers, academics, and non-governmental organisations—related to climate action, the intergenerational equity principle, or WYCJ’s campaign.
The WYCJ Legal blog aims to create momentum around WYCJ’s initiative by producing legal content referring to the implementation of a rights-based approach to the climate crisis and the utilization of international legal mechanisms to clarify and develop international environmental law.
Milieudefensie et al v Royal Dutch Shell: Where does corporate climate litigation go from here?
By Joe Fox
1/2/25
This blog post takes stock of where we are now, and what lessons we might take forward from the Milieudefensie et al. vs. Royal Dutch Shell case.
Ecocide: A New Avenue for Climate Justice?
By Eleonora Raus
16/1/25
This blog post responds to the Pacific Island States’ proposal and offers some reflections on whether ecocide creates an alternative avenue for achieving climate justice.
The Campaign for Youth Climate Justice Reaches Japan
By Joe Fox
8/11/24
In Japan, a lawsuit led by 16 young people has sought an injunction against 10 major corporate emitters to reduce their emissions to at least the levels indicated by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.
Navahine v. Hawai‘i Department of Transportation: Ensuring the Constitutional Right to a Clean Environment
By Amy Kraitchman
12/9/24
In June 2024, a historic settlement was announced between 13 youth plaintiffs, the State of Hawai‘i, Governor Green, and the Hawai‘i Department of Transportation.
The ITLOS Advisory Opinion on Climate Change and the Law of the Sea - Impacts on Youth Climate Justice, International Law, and Human Rights
By Paula Moreno-Cervera de la Cuesta
9/9/24
In July 2024, the World's Youth for Climate Justice and One Ocean Hub hosted a webinar to discuss the Advisory Opinion issued by the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea on May 21, 2024, concerning the protection of the marine environment from pollution caused by climate change.
Shaping the Future of Climate Justice and Human Rights: The Case of KlimaSeniorinnen v. Switzerland
By Peter Jacobs and Sophie Verbeek
25/6/24
The European Court of Human Rights on 9 April 2024 handed down a historic judgement as the Court recognised the failure of Switzerland to protect the applicants from the ill effects of climate change.
The ITLOS Advisory Opinion: A win for the oceans, a win for the fight against climate change
By Jasmine Rowe and Henrieke Bünger
25/6/24
On the 21st of May 2024, climate history was made when the first ground-breaking Advisory Opinion on the specific obligations of States in regard to climate change was issued by the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea.
Carême v. France: Setting the Bar Too High?
By Ecab Amor Vazquez.
5/6/24
The first half of 2024 has seen monumental developments in climate change-based human rights litigation at the level of regional mechanisms of human rights protection.
Duarte Agostinho ECHR Case: A Bump in the Road for Youth Climate Justice?
By Clare Lagan
5/6/24
In April 2024, the European Court of Human Rights handed down its judgements on a trio of climate cases; KlimaSeniorinnen v Switzerland, Duarte Agostinho and Others v Portugal and 31 Others, and Carême v. France.
Not Leaving Any Stone Unturned: WYCJ’s efforts before the Inter-American Court of Human Rights
By Theresa Erna Amor-Jürgenssen
12/2/24
On December 18, 2023, World’s Youth for Climate Justice presented two briefs to the Inter-American Court of Human Rights in its advisory proceedings on the climate emergency and human rights.