Search Climate Insights Directory

The Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) critiques the outcomes of COP18 in Doha, arguing that the negotiations lacked political will and failed to protect the human rights of vulnerable communities despite the UNFCCC's 2010 recognition of the link between climate change and human rights.

This commentary by the Center for International Environmental Law argues that the international climate change regime has historically failed to address the human rights implications of both climate change and the implementation of climate policies, and suggests that the Durban Platform for Enhanced Action (ADP) provides opportunities to rectify this.

The Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) provides comments on a Revised Legal Analysis by the Basel Convention's Secretariat regarding hazardous wastes generated on board ships. CIEL argues that the Secretariat's analysis creates loopholes by excluding non-Marpol wastes generated on ships from the Convention's transboundary movement (TBM), generation, and environmentally sound management (ESM) obligations. CIEL proposes alternative interpretations based on the Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties (VCLT), emphasizing that both coastal State jurisdiction (in internal waters, territorial seas, and EEZs) and flag-State jurisdiction (including on the high seas) should trigger Basel obligations for non-Marpol wastes.

A joint statement addressed to the President of Guatemala by a coalition of national and international organizations, urging the strengthening of the Instancia de Análisis de Ataques a Defensores de Derechos Humanos to protect human rights defenders, particularly those opposing large-scale extractive projects.

This document is an amicus curiae brief submitted by EarthRights International and the Center for International Environmental Law to the Constitutional Court of Peru. It argues that the Peruvian state violated the fundamental rights of the Arboleda indigenous people and other titled peoples in the Tiquillaca district by granting mining concessions without prior consultation, as required by international law and the Peruvian Constitution.

This CIEL issue brief examines the travaux préparatoires of the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL) to determine the meaning of the phrase "normal operations of a ship," specifically in the context of how it interacts with the Basel Convention's exclusion of wastes from such operations.

This policy paper advocates for a human rights-based approach to climate finance to ensure that mitigation and adaptation efforts do not violate human rights or cause social and environmental harm. It proposes six guiding principles—including 'Do No Harm' and public participation—and provides detailed recommendations for the Green Climate Fund (GCF) to implement robust safeguards, a transparent monitoring system, and an independent grievance mechanism.

This briefing by the Center for International Environmental Law and Oxfam examines the role of Development Finance Institutions (DFIs) and the systemic risks associated with their lending through Financial Intermediaries (FIs) rather than direct project investment.

A statement delivered by Marcos Orellana of the Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) to the UN Human Rights Council, urging the establishment of a special procedure to address the human rights dimensions of the environment and climate change.

This policy brief by the Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) argues that the success of the Rio+20 UN Conference on Sustainable Development depends on integrating a rights-based approach. It examines the historical evolution of human rights and environmental linkages from 1972 to 2002 and critiques the January 2012 Zero Draft of the Rio+20 outcome document for failing to recognize the fundamental right to a healthy environment.

This report by the Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) argues that the European Union's REACH regulation is currently ineffective at managing the health, safety, and environmental risks of nanomaterials. The author identifies four primary regulatory gaps—identification, phase-in status, tonnage thresholds, and risk assessment—that allow nanomaterials to enter the market with insufficient data, contradicting the "no data, no market" principle. The report proposes either modifying the REACH text or creating a stand-alone "nano patch" regulation to address these deficiencies.

The document advocates for a human rights-based approach to climate finance to ensure rights considerations are integrated into the development and monitoring of institutions like the Green Climate Fund.

This report by the Center for International Environmental Law argues for the integration of a human rights-based approach into the global climate finance architecture. It evaluates existing mechanisms—the Global Environment Facility (GEF), REDD+ initiatives, and the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM)—and provides detailed recommendations for the design of the UNFCCC's Green Climate Fund (GCF) to prevent social and environmental harm.

This research paper explores the integration of human rights standards into climate change policy through a human rights-based approach, emphasizing the critical role of training and education for rights-holders and duty-bearers.

The Maastricht Principles on Extraterritorial Obligations of States in the area of Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, adopted on 28 September 2011 by a group of international law and human rights experts, clarify the obligations of States to respect, protect, and fulfil economic, social, and cultural rights beyond their own borders. The document establishes that States are responsible for acts or omissions that have foreseeable effects on human rights extraterritorially and outlines the duties of States to regulate non-State actors, such as corporations, and to cooperate internationally to create an enabling environment for the universal realization of these rights.

A statement from a coalition of international, regional, and local NGOs urging the 18th session of the Human Right Council to renew the mandate of the Special Procedure on the adverse effects of the management, movement, dumping and disposal of hazardous substances and wastes on the enjoyment of human rights for another three years.

A statement by the Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) calling on President Obama to reject the Keystone XL pipeline and urging a global transition from fossil fuels to clean energy.

The Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) submitted comments on July 16, 2011, arguing that the Project Design Document (PDD) for a high-efficiency power generation project by Coastal Gujarat Power Ltd. in India should not be validated. CIEL contends that the project's stakeholder consultation process was inadequate and that the project causes significant environmental harm, potentially violating Indian environmental law.

This report by the Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) analyzes the Safe Chemicals Act of 2011 (S. 847), a bill introduced by Senator Frank Lautenberg to reform the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA). The analysis evaluates whether the bill provides the necessary implementing authority for the United States to ratify the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs), the POPs Protocol to the Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution (LRTAP POPs Protocol), and the Rotterdam Convention.

A briefing by the Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) outlining key issues and goals for the Fifth Meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP5) to the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants, held in Geneva from April 25-29, 2011.