Rising Sea Levels: Promoting Climate Justice through International Law Webinar 3

In January 2020, the Human Rights Committee in its decision on the case brought by Ioane Teitiota made direct links between climate change and human rights and, more specifically, with State obligations in protecting the human rights of those affected by the effects of climate change. Rising sea level and the potential harm to those affected by the phenomenon took centre stage in the decision. The Human Rights Committee decided that rights to life could be affected by rising sea levels and home countries have an obligation to take adaptation measures to address them. Failure or inability to do so, creates human rights obligations for deporting authorities and may invoke the non- refoulement principle. Such threats to human rights caused by rising sea levels, are well reported in the Pacific islands. But is there an obligation to protect people in a context where harm is predictable but not yet imminent?
Questions considered:

What is the significance of the Human Rights Committee's decision to the protection of human rights amidst rising sea levels? What has been the impact (if any) of the decision?
How can science inform the human rights decision/policy making process in the creation of adaptation measures?
What are the lessons to be learned for other geographic regions in addressing predicted but not realised human rights threats?
What is the state of the international law when it comes to climate displaced populations?
Speakers
Dr Irene Antonopoulos, Royal Holloway, University of London (chair)
Professor Jane McAdam, University of New South Wales (UNSW)
Emeline Siale Ilolahia, Pacific Islands Association of NGOs (PIANGO)
Prof Benoit Mayer, The Chinese University of Hong Kong
Matthew Reed QC and Admas Habteslasie, Landmark Chambers