Thema: Klima & Umwelt

Umweltverfassungsrecht, verfassungsrechtliche Aspekte der Klimagovernance, Umweltrechte als Verfassungsrechte und verfassungsrechtliche Regulierung der Umweltpolitik. Umfasst verfassungsrechtlichen Umweltschutz, Klimarechte und verfassungsrechtliche Aspekte der Nachhaltigkeit.

Rising Before Sinking

On 22 September 2022, just one day before global climate protests took place in around 450 locations, the UN Human Rights Committee (Committee) has published its landmark decision in the case Daniel Billy et al. v. Australia. In casu, the Committee found that Australia failed to adequately protect members of an indigenous community present in four small, low-lying islands in the Torres Strait region from adverse impacts of climate change, which resulted in the violation of the complainants’ rights to enjoy their culture (Art. 27 ICPPR) and to be free from arbitrary interferences with their private life, family and home (Art. 17 ICCPR). The Committee thereby issued the first decision at the international level to tackle substantive human rights questions in the context of climate change that relate to the current situation of small islands and their indigenous inhabitants.

3. Oktober 2022

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Right-Wing Populists and the Global Climate Agenda

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The rise of right-wing populist leaders, governments and political parties around the world has impacted environmental policy in general and the climate agenda particularly. In this brief commentary, we aim to contribute to an emerging literature that studies the relation between far-right populist rhetoric and actions on climate change policy. The idea is to analyse whether Jair Bolsonaro brings new tactics to the playbook of autocratic leaders, and if so which types. While political dynamics in Hungary, Poland and the USA have all been studied to establish the links between populist politics and climate inaction, there is still room to broaden the view to countries of the Global South.

21. September 2022

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Klimaschutz geht durch den Magen

Am 25. September 2022 stimmt die Schweiz über die eidgenössische Volksinitiative „Keine Massentierhaltung in der Schweiz (Massentierhaltungsinitiative)“ ab. Die Initiative fordert das Ende der industriellen Tierproduktion bzw. die Abkehr von der Massentierhaltung und den Aufbruch hin zu einer zukunftsfähigen, tierfreundlich(er)en und ressourcenschonenden Landwirtschaft. Obschon die Initiative primär ein tierschutzpolitisches Anliegen verfolgt, ist sie insbesondere für die Klimapolitik von grösster Bedeutung.

13. September 2022

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A Seismic Shift

On 1 September 2022, the Eastern Cape High Court handed down its eagerly anticipated judgment in the case of Sustaining the Wild Coast NPC and Others v Minister of Mineral Resources and Energy and Others (the Shell case). The judgment had the effect of setting aside an exploration right that would have enabled Shell to conduct seismic surveys off South Africa’s coastline, in its search for oil and gas reserves. The judgment has been hailed by social and environmental justice activists alike. Although the case was decided more narrowly on administrative law principles, I argue that the judgment holds greater significance in that it highlights the importance of civil society activism and the crucial role of the judiciary in upholding constitutionally protected social and environmental rights.

12. September 2022

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Jetzt das Strommarktdesign auf Erneuerbare ausrichten

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Der starke Anstieg der Strom- und Gaspreise in den vergangenen Wochen und Monaten hat nicht nur in Deutschland Sorge vor wirtschaftlichen Folgen sowie Strom- und Gasengpässen ausgelöst. Neben den Entlastungspaketen der Bundesregierung sind auch auf europäischer Ebene verschiedene Maßnahmen getroffen worden, um den Preisanstieg und dessen Auswirkungen zu begrenzen. So hat insbesondere die Europäische Kommission ein Maßnahmenpaket für nachhaltige Energie in Europa vorgestellt und verschiedene Einzelmaßnahmen, etwa die Senkung der Großhandelspreise auf dem iberischen Strommarkt, genehmigt.

12. September 2022

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Pakistan’s Call for Climate Reparations

Torrential monsoon rains have triggered Pakistan’s worst floods this century. So far, at least 1,300 people have been killed and a third of the country is under flood waters. Entire villages have been washed away and an estimated three million children are in need of humanitarian assistance. Against this backdrop, Pakistan’s minister for climate change has called for rich nations to pay reparations to developing States suffering climate loss and damage. In this blog post, I will put the claims for climate reparations in an international law context.

8. September 2022

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Czechia’s First Climate Judgment

Czechia’s first climate change lawsuit ended with a small sensation. On the hot summer day of 15th June, the Municipal Court in Prague ruled that four Czech Ministries violated the plaintiffs‘ right to a favourable environment. The violation consists in the omission to set any concrete mitigation measures that would lead to reduction of greenhouse gas emissions by 55% by the year 2030 compared to the year 1990. As the Urgenda Climate Case and other landmark judgments have paved the way for climate action around the world, this first noteworthy ruling of the region blazed the trail specifically for other courts in Central and Eastern Europe.

3. September 2022

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Win or Lose, Chile’s Draft Constitution Heralds a New Era of Climate Constitutionalism

On September 4, Chileans will vote on whether to adopt a new constitution. It is a deeply contested election. Polls show that the yes vote is trailing by roughly 10% points, but with over 15% of voters still undecided, as of last week. The debate over the new text has centered on questions of the balance of powers, the autonomy of indigenous people, and the participation of the private sector in the provision of social security, health, and education. But one of the most innovative features of the text is not getting enough attention domestically – its deep engagement with environmentalism, and with climate change in particular.

31. August 2022

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Atomausstieg? – nein danke!

Täglich wird das Schreckensszenario an die Wand gemalt: Deutschland friert im Winter aufgrund mangelnden Gases. Daher häufen sich in den letzten Wochen die Forderungen, die drei verbleibenden AKW nicht wie geplant mit Ablauf des Jahres abzuschalten und somit doch nicht den geplanten Ausstieg aus der Atomenergie zu vollziehen. Der aktuelle Atomausstieg ist ein komplexes Konstrukt der vergangenen zwei Jahrzehnte. Der Weg zu dem heutigen Kompromiss führte aufgrund der Verletzung rechtsstaatlicher Grundsätze und von Art. 14 GG zu mehreren Fingerzeigen aus Karlsruhe. Nun droht durch eine überhastete Änderung des Atomgesetzes dieses fein austarierte Verhältnis zwischen Energiesicherheit, Umsetzung des Willens der Bevölkerung sowie der Grundrechtspositionen der AKW Betreiberfirmen ins Wanken zu geraten.

25. August 2022

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