IBA takes leading role in increasing awareness of climate change justice

Abstract

This article surveys the key recommendations in the IBA's 2014 report, Achieving Justice and Human Rights in an Era of Climate Disruption. The author highlights the report's focus on creative and practical ideas for developing international law's response to the challenge of climate change, with particular attention to the importance of recognising ‘climate change justice’ – considering those who have contributed least to climate change, but who will be the most affected. The report contains over 50 recommendations spanning international environmental law, human rights law, international trade and investment law, and the law of state responsibility, as well as providing recommendations for the UN, the UNFCCC negotiations, the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and the World Trade Organization (WTO) together with corporations, states and individuals. The article also reviews the IBA's work in the 12 months since the report was released on developing and implementing some of the key recommendations and invites environmental and human rights lawyers to join the IBA's work in this area.