...and Political Rights Official Complaint of the Government of Algoria Alleging Violation of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights by Australia 31 December 2008 By Keely Boom LLB B Com GDLP PhD Candidate, University of Wollongong Legal Officer, Australian Climate Justice Program CONTENTS Contents I. Summary of Complaint 3 II. Complainant 3 III. Defendant 3 IV. Basis of Complaint 4 V. Jurisdiction 4 VI. Exhaustion of all available domestic remedies 7 VII. Facts submitted by the Government of Algoria 8 VIII. Alleged Violations of the ICCPR by Australia 12 A. The Right of Self-Determination 13 B. The Right to Life 14 C. The Right to Liberty of Movement and Freedom to Choose One’s Residence 15 D. Freedom from Arbitrary or Unlawful Interference with Privacy and Family 16 E. The Right to Culture 17 IX. Causation 17 X. Remedies sought 20 Explanatory Note 22 Summary of Complaint 1. The State of Algoria complains that Australia is failing to fulfil its existing obligations under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights[1] (“ICCPR”) due to its historical and continuing contribution to anthropogenic climate change and its associated impacts upon the human rights and fundamental freedoms recognised in ICCPR as held by the citizens of the State of Algoria. 2. The State of Algoria makes this Complaint in accordance with interstate provisions provided through Article 41 of the ICCPR. 3....
Words: 7584 - Pages: 31
...What is climate change? The Earth's climate has changed over the last century. Increases in average temperatures have been seen around the globe and there is new and stronger evidence that most of the warming observed in the last 50 years is due to human activities. While climate change is a global issue, it will affect us all. Climate change has the potential to adversely affect our environment, our communities and our economy unless we take action now to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions and prepare for the impacts. Climate change will alter global and local climates. In Victoria, this means a warmer and drier future, with an increasing likelihood of more extreme events such as heatwaves, bushfires and storm surges. Climate change is the greatest threat facing our planet today. A warming planet alters weather patterns, water supplies, seasonal growth for plants and a sustainable way of life for us and the world’s wildlife. Climate change has already started, but it’s not too late to take action. There’s still time for us all to be part of the solution. A continuous flow of energy from the sun heats the Earth. Naturally occurring gases in the atmosphere, known as greenhouse gases – this includes carbon dioxide (CO2) - , trap this heat like a blanket, keeping the Earth at an average of 15 degrees Celsius – warm enough to sustain life. The overuse of fossil fuels is increasing CO2 in the atmosphere, trapping more and more heat and warming the Earth. As a result, we’re...
Words: 7148 - Pages: 29
...AGRICULTURE TO CLIMATE CHANGE- A COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW OF THE UTILISATION OF THE AGRO-ECOLOGICAL REGIONS A Review For Policy Makers J S Phiri, E Moonga, O Mwangase, G Chipeta 05-04-13 Climate Change, Agriculture and Agro-Eco Regions of Zambia, A Review. ZaAS Page 1 Foreword The Zambia Academy of Sciences (ZaAS) was established for a purpose of “Promoting Excellence in Scientific and Technical Endeavours” in Zambia. I am glad to see that as a young academy, we are on the right path towards fulfilling our objectives and especially our role of advancing the cause of science and technology. I would like to reiterate that ZaAS is ready and willing to contribute, as scientists in the sustainable development of our country as we strongly believe that Zambia can truly develop only through advancement in science and technology. This Policy Brief is in line with the aspirations of the Constitution of the Academy and specifically Articles 4 and 5 that empowers the Academy to initiate studies or can be requested by stakeholders including Government or persons to undertake such research for purposes of scientific advice, guidance or for purposes of advancing science and technology in Zambia. It is in recognising this important role that the first Policy Brief addresses climate change and food security. Climate change is a challenge universally considered the single most threatening situation facing mankind today since time immemorial. This Policy Brief tackles impacts of climate change on agriculture...
Words: 16630 - Pages: 67
...Southern Africa Regional Office Lusaka, Zambia Report Climate Change in Zambia: Opportunities for Adaptation and Mitigation through Africa Bio-Carbon Initiative By Samuel Mulenga Bwalya Peaks Environmental Management Consultants P.O Box 32632 Lusaka, Zambia January, 2010 Table of Contents Contents Page Table of Contents................................................................................................................. i List of Tables ...................................................................................................................... ii List of acronyms ................................................................................................................ iii Acknowledgements............................................................Error! Bookmark not defined. Executive Summary ............................................................................................................ v 1. Introduction................................................................................................................. 1 1.1 Objectives of the study........................................................................................ 1 1.2 Approaches and methodology............................................................................. 2 2. Climate variability and impacts .................................................................................. 2 2.1 Climate variability trends.................................
Words: 15235 - Pages: 61
...Executive Summary For the last five decades the pursuit of economic growth has been the single most important policy goal across the world. The global economy is almost five times the size it was half a century ago (Tim Jackson, Published by the Sustainable Development Commission © March 2009, P1). Economic growth is supposed to deliver prosperity. Better investment return could indicate excellent corporation development, and higher incomes should mean better choices, richer lives, and an improved quality of life for us all. However, the banking crisis of 2008 forced us to confront our inability to manage the financial sustainability of the global economy and the ecological sustainability as well. In addition, led the world to the brink of financial disaster and shook the dominant economic model based on economic growth to its foundations. The aim of this report is to define sustainable economy in terms of six themes: ecology and sustainability; population and demographics; science and technology; economy; geopolitics and security; society and culture. Also, analyze the effects of issues of sustainable economy on management’s governance of the Colourful Corporation. Based on these analyses, this report will provides recommendations about future vision and strategy top management could consider for a sustainable Colourful Corporation. Based on these analyses, the following recommended visions and strategis will be given for Management to keep the Colourful Corporation’s sustainability: ...
Words: 1141 - Pages: 5
...America’s Future with Renewable Energy Robert Keith Clark ENG122 Prof. Sabine Meyer May 5, 2013 America’s future with renewable energy Only a very small percentage of the energy from the sun reaches the earth. However, one hour of that sunshine provides enough energy to power the entire world for a year (National Geographic, n.d.). As America moves forward into the 21st century, U.S. environmental policies need to do more to encourage green renewable energy technology thus reducing dependence on foreign oil, while focusing on environmental concerns, and helping to ensure that the United States remains a world leader. Methods Initial research for this project began with a look at U.S. government statistics and websites. However, as the research continued the Ashford library became a valuable source of information. This research paper is a combination of scholarly journal articles and other reliable articles from reputable news organizations. Some of the data came from teams of scientists and other international organizations that collect and organize data about renewable energy and environmental issues. One source that was particularly useful was America’s Energy Future (2009); the book was written by the Committee on America’s Energy future, the National Academy of Sciences, the National Academy of Engineering, and the National Research Council. Even though the information contained in this research project came from reliable sources, the information...
Words: 2161 - Pages: 9
...1 Introduction According to the Third Assessment Report of IPCC, South Asia is the most vulnerable region of the world to climate change impacts (McCarthy et al., 2001). The international community also recognizes that Bangladesh ranks high in the list of most vulnerable countries on earth. Bangladesh’s high vulnerability to climate change is due to a number of hydro-geological and socio-economic factors that include: its geographical location in South Asia; its flat deltaic topography with very low elevation; its extreme climate variability that is governed by monsoon and which results in acute water distribution over space and time; its high population density and poverty incidence; and its majority of population being dependent on crop agriculture which is highly influenced by climate variability and change. Despite the recent strides towards achieving sustainable development, Bangladesh’s potential to sustain its development is faced with significant challenges posed by climate change (Ahmed and Haque, 2002). It is therefore of utmost importance to understand its vulnerability in terms of population and sectors at risk and its potential for adaptation to climate change. Increased climate variability means additional threats to drought-prone environments and is considered a major crop production risk factor. The impact of climate variability and change on agricultural production is a global concern. However, the impact is particularly important in Bangladesh...
Words: 7382 - Pages: 30
...bibliographical references. 1. Disaster incidence. 2. Vulnerability. 3. Social and economic impacts. I. Asian Development Bank Institute. The views expressed in this book are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views and policies of the Asian Development Bank (ADB), the Asian Development Bank Institute (ADBI), or their Board of Governors or the governments they represent. ADB and ADBI do not guarantee the accuracy of the data included in this publication and accept no responsibility for any consequence of their use. By making any designation of or reference to a particular territory or geographic area, or by using the term “country” in this document, ADB and ADBI do not intend to make any judgments as to the legal or other status of any territory or area. ADBI encourages printing or copying information exclusively for personal and noncommercial use with proper acknowledgment of ADBI. Users are restricted from reselling, redistributing, or creating derivative works for commercial purposes without the express, written consent of ADBI. Cover photograph: © Tim Hetherington/Magnum Photos Note: In this publication, “$” refers to United States dollars. Asian Development Bank Institute...
Words: 8121 - Pages: 33
...1 ESSAYS ON SUSTAINABILITY Thirteen Challenging Essays for Earthlings By Peter E. Black, 2008 Wheels and Water .......................................................page 1 Water and Humans on Planet Earth ................................... 2 Climate, Weather, and Global Warming ............................. 3 A Catastrophic Loss of Species ......................................... 4 The Naked Truth................................................................... 5 Asymmetrical Resource Distribution ................................. 6 Stormwater and Groundwater Runoff ................................ 7 Economy, Energy, Environment ......................................... 8 Drill in the ANWR? No Way! ............................................... 9 The Wonder of Water ......................................................... 10 Buffering Sands of Time.................................................... 11 Ecology and Civilization .................................................... 12 With a Bang, not a Whimper.............................................. 13 © 2008 Peter E. Black, PhD (US Copyright Registration TXu 1-580-484, July 13, 2008 as “Conservation is the Cornerstone of Sustainability”) Distinguished Teaching Professor of Water and Related Land Resources, Emeritus, State University of New York, College of Environmental Science and Forestry, 1 Forestry Drive, Syracuse, NY 13210 peblack@esf.edu and www.watershedhydrology.com Essays on Sustainability Thirteen Challenging...
Words: 10599 - Pages: 43
...Environmental Change 17 (2007) 445–459 Barriers perceived to engaging with climate change among the UK public and their policy implications Irene Lorenzonia,b,������, Sophie Nicholson-Coleb, Lorraine Whitmarshb a School of Environmental Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich, NR4 7TJ, UK b Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research, School of Environmental Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich, NR4 7TJ, UK Received 25 August 2006; received in revised form 12 January 2007; accepted 17 January 2007 Abstract This paper reports on the barriers that members of the UK public perceive to engaging with climate change. It draws upon three mixed-method studies, with an emphasis on the qualitative data which offer an in-depth insight into how people make sense of climate change. The paper defines engagement as an individual’s state, comprising three elements: cognitive, affective and behavioural. A number of common barriers emerge from the three studies, which operate broadly at ‘individual’ and ‘social’ levels. These major constraints to individual engagement with climate change have implications for achieving significant reductions in greenhouse gases in the UK. We argue that targeted and tailored information provision should be supported by wider structural change to enable citizens and communities to reduce their carbon dependency. Policy implications for effective engagement are discussed. r 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. Keywords: Climate change; Engagement;...
Words: 13826 - Pages: 56
...Types and Uses of Renewable Energy and Their Influences DeVry University LAS-432 Professor Anthony Baker Team E Vincent Murr, Alisia Ngo, Mark Pick, Kristine Reed & Venrick Richards 02/25/14 Contents Introduction-Alisia Ngo 3 The Uses and Science of renewable Energy 7 History of Renewable Energy- Vincent Murr 10 Political Influence-Vincent Murr 15 Impact on the economy – Mark Pick 20 Cultural Issues-Kristine Reed 31 Environmental Effects- Kristine Reed 34 Moral and Ethical Concerns-Venrick Richards 38 Conclusion-Venrick Richards 46 References 50 Introduction-Alisia Ngo Throughout the 20th and 21st century, fossil fuels such as coal, petroleum, and natural gas have been essential to our way of life. In the past several decades scientists have warned that coal and oil have been diminishing and that it could take thousands of years for the earth to replenish what we have already used. With that being said finding other resources of energy is crucial to the conservation of our way of life as we know it. Evidence has shown that the U.S. relies heavily on oil, coal, and natural gas for its energy. So finding new ways to substitute these sources of energy through renewable energy like wind, and sunlight needs to be a high priority for local and state governments nationwide. In this paper I will explain why the need for renewable energy is so important to the environment and our way of life. I will speak specifically on the many types of renewable...
Words: 14436 - Pages: 58
...Green Banking Initiative: Opportunities for Bangladesh Dr. S M Ahsan Habib Professor and Director (Training & Research), BIBM The paper was presented at a seminar on Green Banking at BIBM on October 14, 2010 Green Banking Initiative: Opportunities for Bangladesh I. Introduction Banks that were once seen only as profit motive institutions have been adjusting to a more demanding market and to a more conscious society over last two decades. An increasing number of banks around the world are going green by providing innovative green products that cover financial services to support the activities that are not hazardous to environment and help conserve environment. A green bank is also called an ethical bank, a socially responsible bank, or a sustainable bank. The exact meaning of all these titles may not be same however they cover a lot of common activities and perceptions. At least, all these banks- in various ways and at different times- have engaged themselves in making a better future (Merzio 2007). The approach to green banking (GB) varies from bank to bank, however, broad objectives of green banks are to use their resources with responsibility avoiding waste and giving priority to environment and society. The public concern of the state of environment has been growing significantly in the last few years, mostly due to apparently unusual weather patterns, rising greenhouse gases, declining...
Words: 16618 - Pages: 67
...ARCTIC VOL. 59, NO. 3 (SEPTEMBER 2006) P. 261 – 275 Possible Effects of Climate Warming on Selected Populations of Polar Bears (Ursus maritimus) in the Canadian Arctic IAN STIRLING1 and CLAIRE L. PARKINSON2 (Received 10 November 2005; accepted in revised form 25 January 2006) ABSTRACT. Polar bears depend on sea ice for survival. Climate warming in the Arctic has caused significant declines in total cover and thickness of sea ice in the polar basin and progressively earlier breakup in some areas. Inuit hunters in the areas of four polar bear populations in the eastern Canadian Arctic (including Western Hudson Bay) have reported seeing more bears near settlements during the open-water period in recent years. In a fifth ecologically similar population, no changes have yet been reported by Inuit hunters. These observations, interpreted as evidence of increasing population size, have resulted in increases in hunting quotas. However, long-term data on the population size and body condition of polar bears in Western Hudson Bay, as well as population and harvest data from Baffin Bay, make it clear that those two populations at least are more likely to be declining, not increasing. While the ecological details vary in the regions occupied by the five different populations discussed in this paper, analysis of passive-microwave satellite imagery beginning in the late 1970s indicates that the sea ice is breaking up at progressively earlier dates, so that bears must fast for longer...
Words: 12538 - Pages: 51
...Sustainable Development and Planetary Boundaries BACKGROUND RESEARCH PAPER Johan Rockström and Jeffrey D. Sachs with Marcus C. Öhman and Guido Schmidt-Traub Submitted to the High Level Panel on the Post-2015 Development Agenda This paper reflects the views of the author and does not represent the views of the Panel. It is provided as background research for the HLP Report, one of many inputs to the process. May 2013 Draft for Discussion Sustainable Development and Planetary Boundaries Draft for Discussion Background paper for the High-Level Panel of Eminent Persons on the Post-2015 Development Agenda Prepared by the co-chairs of the Sustainable Development Solutions Network Thematic Group on Macroeconomics, Population Dynamics, and Planetary Boundaries: Johan Rockström Executive Director, Stockholm Resilience Centre Professor of Environmental Science, Stockholm University Jeffrey D. Sachs Director, The Earth Institute, Columbia University Director, The Sustainable Development Solutions Network Special Advisor to Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon on the Millennium Development Goals with Marcus C. Öhman Associate Professor and Senior Researcher in Ecology and Environmental Science, Stockholm Resilience Centre Guido Schmidt-Traub Executive Director, The Sustainable Development Solutions Network 15 March 2013 1 Draft for Discussion The world faces a serious challenge, indeed one that is unique to our age. Developing countries rightly...
Words: 10566 - Pages: 43
...and researcher in the areas of IT, Business and the Law. Jane is currently editor of the Journal of Database Marketing and has previously published works on the use of statistics in business and Marketing Resource Management. Recent research papers include publications on the misuse of security protocols by major corporations, and a re-evaluation of the Loyalty Ladder concept in marketing theory. Jane was also co-author of the recently published Carbon Trading and the Effect of the Copenhagen Agreement (published by Business Insights, 2010). 2 Disclaimer Copyright © 2011 Business Insights Ltd This report is published by Business Insights (the Publisher). This report contains information from reputable sources and although reasonable efforts have been made to publish accurate information, you assume sole responsibility for the selection, suitability and use of this report and acknowledge that the Publisher makes no warranties (either express or implied) as to, nor accepts liability for, the accuracy or fitness for a particular purpose of the information...
Words: 48747 - Pages: 195
