All over the world, especially since 2015, action for climate justice is under way. Fighting for justice in the name of future generations has become a new specialist legal field.
Although the first steps were taken by Tony Oposa in 1993 in the well-known case: Oposa vs. Factoran, this unusual type of legal action was not pursued for a long time. Climate justice is something that affects us all, and for this reason citizens are coming together and seeking the help of lawyers and scientists to push for progress. This is a sign of progression in the rights of future generations, which is applied today, but with a view to the long term future.
The time has come to act for future generations.
Likewise, a global campaign to take climate change and human rights to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) to seek an Advisory Opinion was created : the World’s Youth for Climate Justice. A campaign that seeks to clarify the obligations of states to protect the rights of current and future generations from the adverse effects of climate change. An ACJAO movement that grows throughout the world with the support of the youth in Europe, the Pacific, the Philippines and the Caribbean. This was used as the topic for a Tony Oposa Moot Court at the UICN World Congress at the Hawaii Supreme Court.
For this reason the Normandy Chair for Peace has given its support to this initiative with the launch of the “I am Climate Justice France” in 2020 thanks to the chair leader, Tony Oposa and the chair emeritus, Professor Robinson’s encouragement. Claudia Pineda, the chair’s coordinator assistant at the time, was in charge of leading the movement in the territory and thanks to her we have the following petition that you can visit and support with your vote:
This is an ambitious project which inquires an Advisory Opinion to the International Court of Justice so that it is able to hold countries to account with regards their climate responsibilities. Aided by scientific diplomacy (drawing up a draft resolution to be voted upon by the United Nations General Assembly), alongside mobilisation on the part of civil society, the Normandy for Peace Chair hopes to lay the groundwork for future laws.
Latest Report
Human Rights in the Face of the climate crisis
A youth-led initiative to bring climate justice to the International Court of Justice
Read this latest report by the WYCJ that explains the campaign to seek an advisory opinion from the ICJ as one of the ways of addressing the inequity arising from the climate crisis. It outlines in detail the background, motivation, and the many legal aspects of the campaign in a comprehensive and easily understandable manner.