HUMAN RIGHTS AND HUMAN WRONGS: CRITIQUING HUMAN ACTIVITIES TO PREVENT THE CLIMATE CHANGE

Abstract

How may one imagine that the largest harm done to the environment is due to the act of humankind! Global warming is the outcome of environmental degradation of certain activities of human beings, who ostensibly portray themselves as guardians of the Earth. The activities are anti-nature resulting in global warming, which has adversely affected the lives of all human beings. These deleterious effects due to climate change, from a legal perspective, have arguably infringed the inalienable rights of all humans. Climate change is one of the most difficult challenges confronted by International Law; arguably, the larger part of the change is attributed to human activities, relevant Human Rights Law and principles could be used as tools to critique the activities and thus cope with the challenge - to contain climate change for the survival of all. The various human activities since the First Industrial Revolution in the 19th century have paved the way for the destruction of the earth. These activities include deforestation, burning of fossil fuels, the burgeoning global population, and manufacturing of luxurious items. All these human activities have indubitably, for the comfort of some compromised the natural legal rights of all. This study criticizes the aforementioned human activities with the aid of human rights law. It also provides some useful recommendations to deal with this quandary. Keywords: Human Rights, Human Activities, Climate Change, Global Warming, Liberal Critique, International Human Rights Law, International Environmental Laws.