Hidden Stories and the Power of Law - Center for International Environmental Law

The document highlights the accelerating loss of Arctic sea ice and the resulting threats to indigenous communities and global populations as evidence of the climate crisis. It argues that while law alone cannot solve climate change, international law is a vital instrument for achieving justice and protecting the rights of those most vulnerable to environmental degradation. The text frames the mission of the Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) as using transformative legal approaches to hold powerful entities accountable and protect human health and the environment on a global scale.

• Arctic sea ice reached its third lowest level ever as of September 10, 2010, surpassed only by record lows in 2007 and 2008, resulting in the Northwest Passage being open for nearly a month.
• Climate change disproportionately affects vulnerable populations, including Arctic peoples (Inuit, Yupik, Gwich’in, and Saami) who rely on sea ice for travel and resources, as well as people in Bolivia, the Himalaya, Africa, and various ocean islands facing rising seas and extreme weather.
• The author asserts that international law is a transformative tool capable of providing justice to parties with unequal resources and is essential for solving the global challenge of climate change.

APA

Kistler, A. (2010). Hidden Stories and the Power of Law - Center for International Environmental Law. Center for International Environmental Law. https://www.ciel.org/22/

Chicago

Kistler, Amanda. Hidden Stories and the Power of Law - Center for International Environmental Law. Center for International Environmental Law, 2010. https://www.ciel.org/22/.

Wikipedia

{{cite press release |last1=Kistler |first1=Amanda |title=Hidden Stories and the Power of Law - Center for International Environmental Law |publisher=Center for International Environmental Law |date=20 September 2010 |url=https://www.ciel.org/22/ |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@misc{kistler2010hidden, author = {Kistler, Amanda}, title = {{Hidden Stories and the Power of Law - Center for International Environmental Law}}, publisher = {Center for International Environmental Law}, year = {2010}, month = sep, url = {https://www.ciel.org/22/}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }