Developing justice within the international climate change framework

1. Dr. Angela Williams University of Sussex Developing justice within the international climate change framework

2. Vulnerability created and/or enhanced by climate change: • Rising sea levels • Glacial flooding • Food security and availability of safe water supplies • Extreme weather Climate change and vulnerability

3. Kiribati Source: kango.org.ki

4. 33 island atolls between Australia and Hawaii Population c.100,000 Possibly uninhabitable within 50 years “We may be beyond redemption ... we may be at the point of no return, where the emissions in the atmosphere will carry on contributing to climate change, to produce a sea level change so in time our small, low-lying islands will be submerged.” President Anote Tong (June 2008) KIRibati

5. Two-thirds country located in Sahara Desert Majority of population located in rural areas Development aid projects (e.g. dam construction) Displacement paths developing Mali  Mauritania  Europe (Spain) MALI

6. Broadly, justice equated to fairness Justice based on social and moral values and thus, very subjective Distinguish: Remedial or Corrective Justice Distributive or Social Justice Ideas of Justice

7. Kivalinav. exxonmobil et al Source: celsais.com

8. Kivalina is claiming monetary damages for: • Contribution to global warming by emission of GHGs • Civil conspiracy and concert of action for suppressing link between GHG emissions and global warming • ExxonMobil et al have sought to have claim dismissed

9. Role of litigation in seeking justice Polluter Pays principle Remedial Justice within the current climate change framework? Remedial justice & climate change

10. Intergenerational Equity • Balancing interests of current and future generations • Intra-generational Equity • Minimising the North-South divide and rectifying current imbalances Distributive justice

11. Article 3(1) UNFCCC “…Parties should protect the climate system for the benefit of present and future generations of humankind, on the basis of equity and in accordance with their common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities. Accordingly, the developed country Parties should take the lead in combating climate change…” Common but differentiated responsibility

12. Article 4(3) UNFCCC “The developed country Parties … shall provide new and additional financial resources to meet the agreed full costs incurred by developing country Parties in complying with their obligations…” Provision of financial resources

13. Article 4(3) UNFCCC “The developed country parties … shall also provide such financial resources, including for the transfer of technology, needed by the developing country Parties…” Technology transfer

14. Multi-layer approach: Legal framework incorporates fair distribution of benefits and burdens Remedial justice mechanisms available where systems / infrastructure (above) ineffective Justice and climate change

15. Use of ‘common but differentiated responsibilities’ principle Technology sharing Adaptation Fund Current negotiating climate Thoughts for the future