12-Hour Global Climate Justice Conference

Watch the session recordings here!

On 22 July 2024, the Climate Clock ticked below 5 years, meaning we have less than 5 years left to drastically reduce greenhouse gas emissions to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius, the goal set with the Paris Accords in 2015. In other words, it's time for global climate action now!

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 (PISFCC), and World’s Youth for Climate Justice organized a Global Climate Justice Conference.

The event recognizes the ongoing efforts to obtain Advisory Opinions (AOs) 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 AOs from these international courts have the power to spark major advancements in climate justice globally.

The conference consisted of six-panel sessions, one dedicated to each region: the Pacific, South and Southeast Asia, Africa, Europe, the Caribbean, and Latin America. This all unfolded within a 12-hour timeframe, making the webinar a climate justice trip around the world in 12 hours! 

Pacific session: 

The recent webinar held on July 22 focused on the Pacific region's proactive stance in addressing the climate emergency through international legal frameworks. The session successfully brought together influential speakers who provided valuable insights into the ongoing advisory opinion proceedings and the broader implications for climate action. The event featured a diverse panel, with each speaker delivering impactful remarks, followed by an engaging Q&A session that fostered meaningful dialogue with participants.

Observers were given a comprehensive update on the current status of the ICJAO Campaign, highlighting both positive developments and challenges. There was an emphasis on the need for a robust advisory opinion that could significantly influence global climate policy. There was also discussion around the Pacific's leadership role in utilizing international law as a mechanism for climate advocacy outlining how these legal efforts could help the region achieve its climate goals, particularly in mitigation and adaptation strategies focusing on Pacific demands. There was also shared experiences regarding the recent ITLOS advisory opinion, which has been recognized as a landmark decision for its implications for climate justice and the importance of regional engagement in such proceedings. Attention was also drawn to the critical role of youth and civil society in the ICJ advisory opinion campaign. The public was made aware of upcoming strategies for increasing participation and mobilizing support from youth and civil society, ensuring that the voices of younger generations are heard in the climate discourse.

Asia session: 

Currently, there is no regional framework on environmental and human rights in the Asian region. This absence makes it more challenging for states and civil society as a whole to advocate from a human rights perspective in the ongoing climate emergency. Acknowledging this gap, the regional session for Asia focused on human rights violations in the context of climate change and applicable laws. The session was held in partnership with the Center for Climate Justice-Bangladesh (CCJ-B) and featured expert panelists from Bangladesh, India, Sri Lanka, and the Philippines.

Many communities in Asia are highly vulnerable to the consequences of climate change. As Mr. Harjeet Singh, Global Political Strategy Lead at Climate Action Network (CAN) International, explained, the poverty reduction gains achieved over the last few decades are now being undone by climate change, with a projected 100 million people expected to be pushed into poverty by 2030. The evidence clearly establishes the link between climate change and human rights violations. Although the UNFCCC does not mention human rights, the Paris Agreement does and “calls on parties to respect, promote, and consider human rights when taking climate action [...]” (Dennis Mombauer, SLYCAN). Advocacy efforts are a critical starting point, and as a global community, we must prioritize intergenerational rights and human rights, and adopt diverse strategies to ensure that greenhouse gas emissions do not exceed 1.5 degrees Celsius.

Panelists emphasized the critical role of youth and civil society in combating climate change and in influencing their governments to advance arguments on human rights and intergenerational equity before the International Court of Justice (ICJ). With the Advisory Opinion now before the ICJ, it is crucial for both small and large states to present progressive arguments to the court.

Africa session:

On July 22, during the expansive 12-hour Global Climate Justice Conference, the African Front hosted a session titled "Using International Court Systems as a Legal Pathway Towards Climate Justice in Africa." This session examined the mechanisms and implications of advisory opinions from international courts and explored how these legal tools can be leveraged to address Africa's pressing climate crisis.

The session explored practical strategies for leveraging international frameworks to address the climate crisis. Speakers highlighted the potential for these opinions to influence policy decisions and strengthen international cooperation. An advantage of this is that African nations can gain authoritative guidance that strengthens their legal arguments and supports their climate justice claims on the global stage.

A significant portion of the discussion focused on the historical relationship between African courts and international judgments. The session provided an insightful analysis of how African legal systems have engaged with and been influenced by international court rulings in the past. This historical context is crucial for understanding how African courts might interpret and apply the advisory opinion sought from the International Court of Justice. 

While the potential of advisory opinions is promising, the session also addressed the challenges involved. Issues such as limited access to legal resources, the need for enhanced legal frameworks, and political complexities were discussed. The session emphasized the importance of strengthening the capacity of African legal institutions and enabling partnerships with international bodies to overcome these barriers

The session concluded with a call to action for leveraging international legal mechanisms to advance climate justice in Africa. Participants agreed on the need for continued advocacy, increased legal expertise, and a concerted effort to engage with international courts. By doing so, African nations can better address the climate crisis and secure justice for communities affected by climate change.

Europe session: 

The regional session for Europe, named "Climate Justice at the Crossroads: Europe's Role and Responsibilities", was organized by WYCJ's European front in partnership with the Center for International Environmental Law. It consisted of a panel discussion on the importance of drawing on human rights law and jurisprudence in addressing the climate crisis and a reflection on what a climate justice approach might mean in terms of European law and policy, followed by a Q&A.

Panelists argued climate solutions should not solely be approached from a technical or scientific approach, “climate justice is an approach taking into consideration human rights and social justice. [...] The climate crisis is a human rights crisis. States must address the human rights dimension of this crisis. [...] Human rights are a tool that is necessary for the people most impacted by the adverse effects of climate change” (Camilla Pollera, CIEL). 

“The ICJAO presents the opportunity to shape the narrative for what international law means for impacted communities” (Safina Okumu, Greenpeace International) Especially broad state participation, can make a big difference. “For states that have not historically participated, having their voice heard is a very important way to democratize the process, especially in getting voices from countries and people on the front lines. Those perspectives are crucial in this process of the ICJAO.” (Léa Main-Klingst, ClientEarth) 

Caribbean session: 

The Caribbean is at the forefront of the global climate crisis, being one of the most vulnerable regions to climate change. The region’s youth have a critical role to play over the next decade, building on the legacy of movements like "1.5 to Stay Alive," which successfully advocated for the inclusion of the 1.5-degree target in the Paris Agreement. The recently concluded SIDS4 conference in Antigua and Barbuda saw significant youth participation, underscoring the growing demand for involvement from Caribbean residents under 35 in climate justice efforts.

The Caribbean session discussed the role of Caribbean youth, the conversation centered around the urgent need for intergenerational equity and legal frameworks that support climate justice. Speakers highlighted the devastating impacts of climate change on the region, such as the unprecedented strength of Hurricane Beryl, described by panelist Ryan Bachoo as “alien to us.” The session also emphasized the importance of empowering youth to actively participate in international dialogues, like the ICJAO process, which was described as a critical tool for achieving true climate justice and equity, particularly for vulnerable populations such as Indigenous communities and small island states. 

“The ICJAO is encouraging our youth to fight, to fight for the protection they need. They are our future. Without them we’re lost.” (Jovana Hoschtialek, 195in365) 

Latin America session:

Latin America is playing a fundamental role in the ongoing efforts to secure ambitious AOs. The IACtHR recently concluded public hearings on the “Climate Emergency and Human Rights Advisory Opinion” featuring extensive participation from the frontline communities and civil society organizations. The Court not only received expert legal perspectives on critical climate issues in the region, such as loss and damage, but also heard first-hand testimonies from communities already experiencing the severe impacts of climate change. 

Given the gravity of these impacts, the Latin America session was focused on “Reparations for violations of human rights in the climate emergency context”. Special Rapporteur Astrid Puentes emphasized that while we often think of a goal as an objective we strive to achieve, the 1.5ºC limit is actually a maximum threshold – not an ideal. As she stated, “We are already talking about serious, irreversible impacts in Latin America and the Caribbean, but also at a global level…We saw this in the hearings of the Inter-American Court". 

Adrian Martinez from La Ruta del Clima added that one of the main expectations of CSOs is that these AOs could provide clarity about our rights and what we should be able to demand or request. Meanwhile, Laura Serna from El Derecho a No Obedecer, a youth participant in the IACtHR hearings, highlighted intergenerational justice as a foundational consideration for both the Court’s decisions and those that States will ultimately make. By advancing ambitious AOs, Latin America is at the forefront of shaping global standards for climate justice.