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This research paper by the Center for International Environmental Law analyzes the inclusion of human rights language in the Cancun Agreements, specifically the Cancun LCA Outcome adopted at the UNFCCC 16th Conference of the Parties (COP) in December 2010. The author argues that while the agreements represent a significant step forward in recognizing the human rights implications of climate change and the obligations of State Parties, the language has not yet been fully operationalized and lacks explicit references to the obligations to "protect, promote and fulfill" human rights.

This report analyzes a 3.75 billion dollar World Bank loan to Eskom Holding Limited for an energy project in South Africa, arguing that the Bank's economic evaluation failed to account for environmental externalities and social costs, potentially leading to a systemic over-investment in large-scale centralized power projects.

This analysis argues that the Cancun Agreements mark significant progress in integrating human rights protections into the international climate regime, driven by NGO pressure and certain State Parties. It emphasizes that this language should guide the implementation of REDD and finance safeguards and calls for a rights-based approach leading into COP 17 in Durban, South Africa.

This report by the Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) critiques the World Bank's 3.75 billion dollar loan to Eskom Holding Limited for the Eskom Investment Support Project in South Africa. The authors argue that the Bank failed to comply with its own Operational Policy 10.04 (OP 10.04) by neglecting to fully quantify and incorporate environmental and social externalities—specifically regarding water scarcity, air quality, and transboundary impacts—into the project's Economic Evaluation, thereby overstating the project's net benefits.

A joint statement by approximately 60 civil society organizations criticizing the International Finance Corporation's (IFC) draft Sustainability Framework for failing to adequately address and protect human rights.

This briefing by the Center for International Environmental Law argues that the Right to Development (RTD) is essential for guiding a non-carbon development path in a climate-constrained world. It posits that the RTD provides a moral and ethical framework to transform economic structures, promote technology transfer to developing nations, and ensure that climate mitigation and adaptation measures do not violate fundamental human rights.

A February 2011 letter to World Bank President Robert B. Zoellick warns that allowing the Bank's General Counsel to opine on specific Inspection Panel eligibility findings creates a conflict of interest and undermines the independence of the Bank's accountability mechanism.

This document is a reply form submitted by the Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) and the European Environmental Bureau (EEB), on behalf of a coalition of international and European NGOs, to a public consultation on the European Commission's proposed definition of 'nanomaterial'.

This briefing consists of testimonies presented to the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) on October 25, 2010, by the Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) and environmental defenders from Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, and Panama. The testimonies denounce a regional pattern of violence, criminalization, and systemic impunity targeting individuals who oppose the impacts of the mining industry in Mesoamerica.

This report by the Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) documents a regional trend of human rights abuses, violence, and killings targeting environmental defenders opposing industrial mining in Mexico and Central America. It argues that these abuses are driven by the failure of host states to manage environmental impacts and protect defenders, as well as a lack of accountability for mining companies in their home states, particularly Canada and the United States.

This executive summary, prepared by the Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) for the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights, addresses the increasing violence and human rights abuses against environmental defenders in Mexico and Central America, specifically within the context of industrial mining.

This report by the Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL), prepared for the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights, documents a regional trend of violence and human rights abuses against environmental defenders in Mexico and Central America within the industrial mining sector. It highlights the severe social and environmental impacts of mining and argues that state failure to regulate the industry and protect defenders leads to high levels of impunity.

This document is a policy brief on the energy transition in the European Union (EU), focusing on the role of the EU's 'Fit for 55' package and the 'REPowerEU' plan to achieve climate neutrality by 2050 and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by at least 55% by 2030. It discusses the necessity of scaling up renewable energy, improving energy efficiency, and diversifying energy sources to reduce dependence on Russian fossil fuels following the invasion of Ukraine. The brief emphasizes the need for integrated planning, investment in infrastructure, and social safeguards to ensure a 'just transition' for workers and regions affected by the shift away from carbon-intensive industries.

The Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) and Accountability Counsel submitted comments on the World Bank Group's draft Framework for Engagement in the Palm Oil Sector, arguing that the proposed strategy is insufficient to prevent systemic harm to people and the environment. The organizations call for a continued moratorium on palm oil lending and the closure of loopholes regarding Financial Intermediaries (FIs) and Advisory Services.

This research paper examines the application and components of Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs), analyzing their role in public engagement and decision-making to determine how these lessons can be applied to Human Rights Impact Assessments (HRIAs).

The Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) comments on the testing of cold-resistant genetically modified eucalyptus trees in the Southern US, using the controversy over 'gene flow' to argue for the restoration of the Office of Technology Assessment (OTA) to provide independent scientific evaluations of climate-related technologies.

This report by the Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) analyzes the 'Safe Chemicals Act of 2010' (Lautenberg bill) and the 'Toxic Chemicals Safety Act of 2010' (Rush-Waxman discussion draft). It evaluates how these proposed reforms to the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) would provide the implementing authority necessary for the United States to ratify the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs), the LRTAP POPs Protocol, and the Rotterdam Convention.

This research paper analyzes the intersection of climate change and human rights, specifically focusing on the role of the UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (CESCR). It details how global warming threatens rights to food, water, health, and housing, and examines international jurisprudence where environmental harm has been linked to human rights violations. The paper evaluates the marginal role of human rights in the 2009 Copenhagen climate talks and suggests that the CESCR can better monitor State compliance by integrating climate-specific questions into its reporting guidelines and utilizing the Optional Protocol for climate-related complaints. It concludes with eleven recommendations for the Committee to systematically anchor climate considerations in its work.

A joint submission by various civil society organizations to the International Finance Corporation (IFC) criticizing its Social and Environmental Sustainability Policy, Performance Standards, and Disclosure Policy. The document argues that the IFC relies too heavily on unverified client data, fails to protect human rights—particularly those of indigenous peoples and women—and lacks transparency in its dealings with financial intermediaries and the extractive industry.

A joint submission by civil society organizations urging the International Finance Corporation (IFC) to update its sustainability and disclosure policies to reflect the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, human rights responsibilities, climate change urgency, and lessons from the financial crisis regarding private sector oversight.