etos_cc_espanol_16jan15-57199a7418901038.pdf

This report, prepared by Greenpeace and the Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) as part of the ETO Consortium, examines the application of the Maastricht Principles on Extraterritorial Obligations (ETOs) to ecological destruction and climate change. It argues that states must be held accountable for human rights violations occurring outside their borders resulting from their own actions, omissions, or failure to regulate non-state actors, such as transnational corporations.

• The Maastricht Principles, issued on September 28, 2011, by 40 international law experts, clarify the extraterritorial obligations of states under existing international law rather than creating new norms. They serve as a tool to ensure that human rights protections are not limited by national borders, particularly regarding Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ESCR).
• Ecological destruction and climate change are identified as direct threats to human rights, causing population displacement, threatening international peace and security, and reducing access to food and water. The report asserts that a healthy planet is a prerequisite for the realization of human rights.
• States have a specific extraterritorial obligation to regulate non-state actors, including transnational corporations, to prevent the undermining of human rights. This includes the duty to ensure that companies based or registered in their territory do not cause environmental damage that violates human rights abroad.
• Indigenous peoples are highlighted as particularly vulnerable to transboundary environmental issues due to their economic and cultural dependence on natural resources. The report notes that extractive projects by transnational companies in or near indigenous territories are a primary source of human rights challenges for these groups.
• Illegal logging is described as a sophisticated transnational criminal activity, with estimates suggesting it accounts for 50% to 90% of total forest production in the most important tropical producing countries. The report emphasizes that corruption can undermine the effectiveness of REDD+ (Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation) as a climate mitigation tool.
• Shipbreaking activities have shifted from developed countries to developing nations, specifically Bangladesh, India, and Pakistan. The process of 'beaching' releases hazardous substances like asbestos, PCBs, and heavy metals (lead, cadmium, mercury, arsenic), which the UNEP identifies as one of the largest land-based sources of marine pollution.
• Climate change is framed as a threat to global security and peace, citing the conflict in Darfur, Sudan, as an example where drought and desertification exacerbated existing tensions. The report notes that the US Department of Defense considers climate change and energy resources as crucial factors for future security.

APA

Center for International Environmental Law (n.d.). etos_cc_espanol_16jan15-57199a7418901038.pdf. https://www.ciel.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/ETOs_CC_Espanol_16Jan15.pdf

Chicago

Center for International Environmental Law. etos_cc_espanol_16jan15-57199a7418901038.pdf. n.d. https://www.ciel.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/ETOs_CC_Espanol_16Jan15.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Center for International Environmental Law |title=etos_cc_espanol_16jan15-57199a7418901038.pdf |url=https://www.ciel.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/ETOs_CC_Espanol_16Jan15.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{centerforinternationalenvironmentallawndetosccespanol16jan1557199a7418901038pdf, author = {{Center for International Environmental Law}}, title = {{etos\_cc\_espanol\_16jan15-57199a7418901038.pdf}}, institution = {Center for International Environmental Law}, url = {https://www.ciel.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/ETOs_CC_Espanol_16Jan15.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }