Solicitud de Opinión Consultiva de la República de Chile y la República de Colombia sobre “Emergencia Climática y Derechos Humanos”

This briefing, submitted by a coalition of civil society organizations to the Inter-American Court of Human Rights, argues that the current structure of the Loss and Damage Fund (LDF) established at COP28 fails to meet international human rights standards. The authors contend that states have a legal obligation to provide full reparation for climate-induced losses and damages, particularly based on historical emissions, and that the LDF's reliance on voluntary donations and its denial of legal liability undermine the right to justice for affected communities.

• The authors argue that the Loss and Damage Fund (LDF) adopted at COP28 lacks essential elements to ensure human rights and access to justice. Specifically, they note that while the preamble mentions human rights, the substantive articles and governing instrument do not, and the fund's structure is based on voluntary cooperation rather than legal responsibility or compensation.
• The briefing asserts that under international law and the Inter-American system, any violation of an international obligation that causes damage requires adequate reparation, including full restitution (restitutio in integrum) and compensation for both material and non-material damages.
• The document highlights a significant gap between the funding provided at COP28 and the actual needs of affected communities. It states that the $700 million pledged to the LDF covers less than 0.2% of the estimated annual requirement, which some studies place between $200 billion and $400 billion.
• The authors criticize the exclusion of indigenous peoples, frontline communities, and peasants from the LDF Board, noting they are limited to the role of observers. They argue this violates the American Convention's requirement for states to ensure public participation in environmental decision-making.
• The briefing expresses concern over the World Bank's potential role as the LDF administrator. The authors suggest this creates a conflict of interest because the World Bank responds to major funders like the United States, which they identify as primary contributors to historical climate debt who oppose binding reparation obligations.
• The document emphasizes the principle of 'common but differentiated responsibilities,' noting a stark disparity in historical emissions. It cites that in 2019, 35% of the global population lived in countries emitting over 9 tCO2-eq per capita, while 41% lived in countries emitting less than 3 tCO2-eq per capita.

APA

Center for International Environmental Law (2023). Solicitud de Opinión Consultiva de la República de Chile y la República de Colombia sobre “Emergencia Climática y Derechos Humanos”. https://www.ciel.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Amicus_Brief_Call_for_Reparation_Rights_in_the_Climate_Crisis_brief.pdf

Chicago

Center for International Environmental Law. Solicitud de Opinión Consultiva de la República de Chile y la República de Colombia sobre “Emergencia Climática y Derechos Humanos”. 2023. https://www.ciel.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Amicus_Brief_Call_for_Reparation_Rights_in_the_Climate_Crisis_brief.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Center for International Environmental Law |title=Solicitud de Opinión Consultiva de la República de Chile y la República de Colombia sobre “Emergencia Climática y Derechos Humanos” |date=18 December 2023 |url=https://www.ciel.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Amicus_Brief_Call_for_Reparation_Rights_in_the_Climate_Crisis_brief.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{centerforinternationalenvironmentallaw2023solicitud, author = {{Center for International Environmental Law}}, title = {{Solicitud de Opinión Consultiva de la República de Chile y la República de Colombia sobre “Emergencia Climática y Derechos Humanos”}}, institution = {Center for International Environmental Law}, year = {2023}, month = dec, url = {https://www.ciel.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Amicus_Brief_Call_for_Reparation_Rights_in_the_Climate_Crisis_brief.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }