Responding to the First International Advisory Opinion by the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea
With global ocean temperatures at record highs, the harms caused by fossil fuel use and greenhouse gas emissions on marine environments and people’s rights are devastating. The International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea has issued an advisory opinion stating that anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions constitute pollution of the marine environment, and states have a duty to prevent, reduce, and control these emissions. This landmark decision has significant implications for climate justice cases worldwide.
Impact of Greenhouse Gas Emissions on Marine Environments
- Seas and oceans absorb vast amounts of greenhouse gas emissions, leading to overheating and negative impacts on marine life and ecosystems.
- Rising global sea temperatures are accelerating the melting of polar ice caps and increasing sea levels, posing a threat to small island states and coastal communities.
This legal precedent is likely to inform future climate justice cases in national, regional, and international courts.
Mandi Mudarikwa, Amnesty International’s Head of Strategic Litigation
The tribunal’s opinion calls for action by the 169 states that are parties to the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea. It emphasizes the need to anticipate risks related to climate change and conserve living marine resources threatened by these risks. The transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy sources is crucial, with a focus on providing climate finance to lower-income countries to address the impacts of the climate crisis.
Background
The International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea, based in Hamburg, Germany, consists of 21 elected judges from around the world. The request for its advisory opinion was made by the Commission of Small Island States on Climate Change and International Law, a group of nine nations. These small island nations, despite contributing minimally to global greenhouse gas emissions, are among the most vulnerable to climate change impacts.
This decision is expected to influence future advisory opinions from the International Court of Justice and the Inter-American Court of Human Rights, following advocacy efforts by students from the Pacific region.
## Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Addressed in the Article
### SDG 13: Climate Action
The issues highlighted in the article are directly connected to SDG 13, which focuses on taking urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts.
## Specific Targets and Indicators
### Target 13.1: Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters in all countries
The article mentions the rising global sea temperatures, accelerating melting of polar ice caps, and increasing sea levels as a result of anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions. These factors pose threats to small island states and coastal communities, highlighting the need to strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards.
### Indicator: Global ocean temperatures, sea levels, and polar ice cap melting rates
The article discusses how global ocean temperatures are the highest ever recorded, indicating a clear impact of anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions on the environment. Monitoring these indicators can help measure progress towards strengthening resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards.
## Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators
| SDGs | Targets | Indicators |
|——————-|———————————————————————————————————|—————————————————————————————————-|
| SDG 13: Climate Action | Target 13.1: Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters in all countries | Global ocean temperatures, sea levels, and polar ice cap melting rates |
Copyright: Dive into this article, curated with care by SDG Investors Inc. Our advanced AI technology searches through vast amounts of data to spotlight how we are all moving forward with the Sustainable Development Goals. While we own the rights to this content, we invite you to share it to help spread knowledge and spark action on the SDGs.
Fuente: amnesty.org
Join us, as fellow seekers of change, on a transformative journey at https://sdgtalks.ai/welcome, where you can become a member and actively contribute to shaping a brighter future.