Search Climate Insights Directory

This briefing note from the Center for International Environmental Law outlines the legal obligations of States to protect the ocean from climate change by halting fossil fuel expansion and phasing out their use. It highlights the significance of climate advisory opinions from the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS), the International Court of Justice (ICJ), and the Inter-American Court of Human Rights in establishing these duties.

A World Resources Institute working paper assessing 10 years of the Our Ocean Conference, finding that of 2,618 commitments totaling $160 billion in pledges, 43% are completed and $133.4 billion has been mobilized, with 54% of finance targeting ocean-climate action.

This legal memorandum by the Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) analyzes the May 21, 2024, advisory opinion (AO) from the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS) regarding States' obligations to protect oceans from climate change. The document details how the ITLOS AO defines anthropogenic greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions as marine pollution under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and discusses the implications of this ruling for ongoing climate advisory proceedings before the International Court of Justice (ICJ).

This briefing examines the 25-year history and impact of the Global Programme of Action (GPA) for the Protection of the Marine Environment from Land-based Activities, detailing its role in coordinating international efforts to combat marine pollution from terrestrial sources.

This policy brief analyzes the Agreement on Environmental Cooperation (ECA) and Chapter 24 of the Canada–United States–Mexico Agreement (CUSMA), evaluating how they replace the environmental frameworks of NAFTA. The author examines the role of the Commission for Environmental Cooperation (CEC), changes to dispute settlement, and new definitions regarding trade and environmental enforcement.

This report by the Institute for Security Studies analyses the maritime security challenges facing Benin in the Gulf of Guinea, focusing on piracy, illegal fishing, and environmental degradation. It examines the resource disparities between Benin's navy and other maritime agencies, the economic impact of insecurity on the port of Cotonou, and the transition from temporary security measures to a sustainable national maritime strategy.

Natural Justice submitted comments to the South African Department of Transport regarding the Marine Pollution (Prevention of Pollution from Ships) Amendment Bill (B5-2022). The organization argues that the Bill should implement stronger penalties, increase local government and police involvement in enforcement, and remove broad exemptions for ship trials and offshore mineral processing to align with South Africa's Paris Agreement commitments.

This document is a commentary by Natural Justice regarding the 'South Africa’s Oceans Economy Master Plan to 2035 Draft 3 v1'. The submission criticizes the Masterplan for failing to align with international climate obligations, neglecting marine biodiversity, and lacking meaningful consultation with coastal and indigenous communities. Natural Justice argues that the plan prioritizes economic growth and carbon-intensive industries, such as offshore oil and gas exploration, over environmental sustainability and the rights of small-scale fishers.