Introductory Remarks by Giulio Bartolini

Abstract

Although the 2020–2021 international agendas were obviously focused on the COVID-19 situation, our societies are under continuous relevant threat as a result of disasters brought about by natural and technological hazards and worsened by the effects of climate change. Such phenomena, capable of significantly disrupting affected communities, are giving rise to multiple legal and institutional challenges and consequently the protection of persons affected by climate change and disasters features on the agenda of several international bodies. A number of examples could be mentioned in this regard, such as the forthcoming debate in 2021 at the United Nations General Assembly on the possibility of adopting a treaty based on the 2016 International Law Commission (ILC) Draft Articles on the Protection of Persons in the Event of Disasters; the current activities of the ILC focused on sea-level rise in international law; debates in human rights monitoring bodies on the relationship between disasters and legal protection, which have intensified in light of the COVID-19 pandemic and led to a continuous flow of recommendations, reports, and other advocacy activities highlighting the challenges raised by this disaster; as complemented by increasing recourse to strategic litigation on climate change in international and domestic fora.