Search Climate Insights Directory

In a statement to the Human Rights Council on 1 July 2024, the Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) and Earthjustice argue that the right to remedy and reparations for climate harm is being denied to the most vulnerable populations. They criticize the reliance on voluntary contributions for the UNFCCC's Loss and Damage Fund and call for human rights standards to inform its operationalization, while awaiting legal clarification on State obligations from the International Court of Justice and the Inter-American Court of Human Rights.

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 by the Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) analyzes historical negotiation timelines of multilateral environmental agreements (MEAs) to provide pathways for the development of a future international legally binding instrument on plastic pollution. It argues that the current ambition to complete the plastics treaty by the end of 2024 is tight and suggests that previous treaties, such as the Rotterdam, Minamata, and BBNJ agreements, demonstrate that negotiations can legally and practically extend beyond initial deadlines without requiring new mandates from governing bodies.

A joint statement by the Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL), the International Service for Human Rights (ISHR), and Earthjustice submitted to the Human Rights Council on June 27, 2024. The statement supports the Independent Expert's report on civil society participation in international solidarity and expresses specific concerns regarding the criminalization of environmental human rights defenders and the safety of participants at UNFCCC climate conferences.

This research paper analyzes a proposed bill in the New York State Legislature, the "Insuring Our Future Act," which seeks to use state regulatory authority to address rising insurance costs and coverage gaps caused by climate change. The authors argue that insurance companies are hypocritically citing climate-driven disasters to raise premiums while continuing to finance and underwrite the fossil fuel projects that drive the climate crisis.

A joint statement by the Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) and Earthjustice supporting a Working Group report on investors, ESG approaches, and human rights, specifically calling for mandatory disclosure laws to prevent greenwashing and the use of carbon offsets to justify fossil fuel expansion.

The Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) issued a statement supporting the International Criminal Court (ICC) Prosecutor's application for arrest warrants against leaders of Israel and Hamas for war crimes and crimes against humanity.

An open letter from the Center for International Environmental Law and other organizations calling on global leaders to end offshore oil and gas activities to protect human rights, the right to food, and marine ecosystems in the context of climate change.

A statement by the Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) argues that twelve major insurers, termed the 'Dirty Dozen', are restricting homeowners insurance in California due to climate risks while simultaneously profiting from fossil fuel investments and underwriting.

A statement by the Center for International Environmental Law and Earthjustice supporting the High Commissioner's report on climate change, specifically emphasizing the link between fossil fuels, agrochemicals, and food security.

A joint statement by the Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) and Earthjustice submitted to the 55th Session of the Human Rights Council, supporting the Special Rapporteur's report on the right to participate in science and its application to climate action and geoengineering.

A joint statement by the Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) and Earthjustice submitted to the 55th Session of the Human Rights Council, arguing that offshore oil and gas activities are incompatible with the human rights of small-scale fishers and the global goal of limiting temperature rise to 1.5°C.

A statement by the Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) regarding the Special Rapporteur's report on business, planetary boundaries, and the right to a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment, emphasizing the need for mandatory corporate due diligence and the phase-out of fossil fuels.

This policy brief by the Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) provides a detailed analysis and commentary on the Revised Zero Draft of the international plastics treaty. It evaluates various options for the treaty's structure and obligations, advocating for legally binding mandates ('shall' instead of 'should'), a full life-cycle approach to plastic pollution, and the inclusion of human rights and health dimensions. CIEL emphasizes the necessity of controlling primary plastic polymer production and eliminating hazardous chemicals to achieve the treaty's objective of ending plastic pollution.

The 'Good Policy Paper' provides a comprehensive guide for the design and implementation of Independent Accountability Mechanisms (IAMs) within financial institutions. It outlines essential standards for an IAM's mandate, structure, and functions—specifically Compliance Review, Dispute Resolution, and Advisory. The document emphasizes the need for structural independence from management, the removal of barriers to complaint admissibility, the protection of complainants from retaliation, and the requirement for financial institutions to implement and monitor Management Action Plans to ensure material remedy for harms.

This briefing by the Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) analyzes the 28th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP28) in Dubai, focusing on the integration of human rights in climate policies. The report argues that the conference was undermined by the host country's restrictive civic space and corporate capture by the fossil fuel industry, leading to outcomes on fossil fuel transitions and the Loss and Damage Fund that are insufficient and flawed.

This policy brief by the Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) argues that geoengineering technologies are speculative 'fixes' that fail to address the root causes of the climate crisis and instead risk accelerating biodiversity loss, ecosystem collapse, and human rights violations.

This fact sheet by the Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) outlines the legal limitations of Conference of the Parties (COP) decisions, contrasting them with treaties, protocols, and amendments. Using examples from the Basel and Kyoto frameworks, it warns that relying on future COP decisions to establish critical obligations for a future plastics treaty may lead to significant delays or failure due to ratification requirements and consensus-based voting.

This fact sheet by the Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) analyzes different structures of international legal instruments—substantive, hybrid, and framework conventions—to provide recommendations for the development of a future plastics treaty.

This briefing, submitted by a coalition of civil society organizations to the Inter-American Court of Human Rights, argues that the current structure of the Loss and Damage Fund (LDF) established at COP28 fails to meet international human rights standards. The authors contend that states have a legal obligation to provide full reparation for climate-induced losses and damages, particularly based on historical emissions, and that the LDF's reliance on voluntary donations and its denial of legal liability undermine the right to justice for affected communities.