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This report by the Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) reviews various international decision-making models to assist negotiators establishing a regional fisheries management organization (RFMO) in the Western and Central Pacific. It analyzes a spectrum of mechanisms—from strict consensus to majority voting—evaluating how different models balance state sovereignty with the need for timely, science-based environmental action.

This briefing analyzes the legal arguments and international law frameworks relevant to the WTO dispute 'EC – Biotech', specifically focusing on the definition of risk assessments (RA) under the SPS Agreement and the potential influence of the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety.

An open letter from 252 legal experts to the participants of the First Conference on Transitioning Away from Fossil Fuels, asserting that states have binding international legal obligations to phase out fossil fuels to prevent significant climate harm.

This open letter, published by the Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL), is addressed to the participants of the First Conference on Transitioning Away from Fossil Fuels in Santa Marta, Colombia. It features a collection of statements from legal experts, academics, and policy advisors who argue that phasing out fossil fuels is a binding legal obligation under international law, rather than a matter of political discretion. The document emphasizes that current approvals for new fossil fuel projects and the continued use of subsidies violate international legal duties to prevent climate harm and protect human rights.

An open letter signed by 252 legal experts, academics, and professionals addressed to the participants of the First Conference for the Transition Beyond Fossil Fuels in Santa Marta, Colombia. The document asserts that states have binding international legal obligations to phase out fossil fuels to prevent significant climate damage and protect human rights.

This briefing, produced by a coalition of climate litigation practitioners, provides structured 'Litigation Notes' to help lawyers apply the International Court of Justice's (ICJ) July 23, 2025, advisory opinion (AO) on States' climate obligations. Specifically, this note focuses on the ICJ's conclusion that the right to a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment is a binding norm of international law and a necessary precondition for the enjoyment of other human rights.

This report examines the evolving role of the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD) in addressing the intersection of climate change and states' obligations under the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (ICERD). It details the Committee's initial steps toward integrating climate-related concerns into its state reporting procedures and recommendations, particularly regarding Indigenous Peoples and people of African descent.

This briefing by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) analyzes the implications of the July 2025 International Court of Justice (ICJ) Advisory Opinion on the Obligations of States in Respect of Climate Change, specifically regarding environmentally harmful subsidies. It argues that the ICJ's findings transform the phase-out of fossil fuel subsidies from a political commitment into a legal imperative, potentially exposing states to international and domestic litigation.