Remedy and Reparations for Climate Harm

The document argues that the climate crisis is a human rights crisis, creating a legal obligation for States and corporations to provide remedy and full reparation for loss and damage. It asserts that the right to remedy is already established under international law and does not require new norms, but rather the application of existing frameworks and the 'polluter pays principle' to hold fossil fuel industries accountable. The text criticizes the UNFCCC for failing to uphold the right to remedy through its reliance on voluntary approaches and calls for the restructuring of loss and damage mechanisms to align with human rights standards. Finally, it emphasizes that while the UNFCCC is insufficient, complementary legal strategies—including litigation in international, regional, and national courts—are essential for delivering climate justice.

• The climate crisis is characterized as a human rights crisis where extreme weather and slow-onset effects cause widespread violations, disproportionately impacting marginalized and vulnerable populations.
• States and corporations have existing legal obligations under international law to prevent and remedy climate-related harm; this does not require new laws but the application of current legal frameworks and the 'polluter pays principle' to ensure polluting industries cover loss and damage costs.
• The UNFCCC multilateral climate governance regime has failed to provide an effective remedy for climate harm due to its reliance on voluntary finance and attempts to avoid liability.
• Because the UNFCCC and Paris Agreement do not limit human rights obligations, complementary legal avenues—including national, regional, and international courts—are critical for enforcing the right to remedy and informing policy solutions.

APA

Center for International Environmental Law (2024). Remedy and Reparations for Climate Harm. https://www.ciel.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Remedy-and-Reparations-for-Climate-Harm_One-Page_Sept2024.pdf

Chicago

Center for International Environmental Law. Remedy and Reparations for Climate Harm. 2024. https://www.ciel.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Remedy-and-Reparations-for-Climate-Harm_One-Page_Sept2024.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Center for International Environmental Law |title=Remedy and Reparations for Climate Harm |date=October 2024 |url=https://www.ciel.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Remedy-and-Reparations-for-Climate-Harm_One-Page_Sept2024.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{centerforinternationalenvironmentallaw2024remedy, author = {{Center for International Environmental Law}}, title = {{Remedy and Reparations for Climate Harm}}, institution = {Center for International Environmental Law}, year = {2024}, month = oct, url = {https://www.ciel.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Remedy-and-Reparations-for-Climate-Harm_One-Page_Sept2024.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }