Newsletters
August newsletter
This newsletter was first sent by email to the members of our Research Network. If you would like to be part of it, sign up here.
PROJECT NEWS
Registrations are now open for our International Conference on Child/Youth-friendly Climate Justice: Progress and Opportunities! This international, interdisciplinary conference hosts papers on the intersection of children’s rights and the climate crisis, highlighting what the right to a healthy environment means for children. For this conference, an in-person and online programme will run simultaneously, with the in-person plenary sessions being live-streamed as part of the online programme. Complete this form by 20th August to confirm your participation.
Exciting News from Scotland: We are thrilled to share that Scotland has incorporated the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) into its national law. This significant development marks a monumental step forward in protecting children's rights in the context of climate justice. Read more about this important milestone and its implications for youth climate advocacy on our blog.
CLIMATE FACTS
On our first Online Research Forum, one of our youngest network members, Hannie, enquired more information about seals, so we asked Sam Cox, a marine ecologist working in MaREI, the SFI Research Centre for Energy, Climate and Marine (UCC), to share some insights with us:
In Ireland, we have two native seal species: the common (harbour) seal, and the grey seal. Both forage for food in the sea and rest/sleep on land. Seals breathe air and hold their breath when diving, typically for 5-10 minutes but sometimes for up to 30 minutes! Grey seals can dive to over 200m, while harbour seals can dive in some instances to more than 600m! Seals face a number of threats, particularly from interactions with fisheries. Bycatch is when seals are accidentally caught in fishing nets. You can find our more information on seals in Ireland at www.sealrescueireland.org/
NEXT ONLINE RESEARCH FORUM
Our next online research forum will be on Thursday, August 22nd at 3 pm (GMT). Ruona Qi will be presenting on “Indigenous People's Rights in the Territorialization Process of World Heritage Sites in Inner Mongolia, China”.
Ruona Qi (Tsaruun) is a Doctoral Candidate at Duke Law School. She holds a PhD in Environmental Law from Wuhan University, China, and has been a visiting researcher at the Social Anthropology Department at the University of Cambridge. She has been conducting field research in Inner Mongolia, China, since 2016.
Please confirm your attendance in advance through this form, and you will receive the link to access the meeting.
The recording of our previous research forum with Prof. Aoife Daly, Dr. Florencia Paz Landeira and PhD Researcher Liesl Muller on the “Youth Climate Justice” project is available here.
YOUTH CLIMATE APPLICATIONS/LITIGATION
Youth Climate Case Japan for Tomorrow / Future. On August 6th, sixteen young people, aged 15 to 29, from Japan nationwide, filed the nation’s first corporate accountability climate lawsuit. They are targeting 10 major companies responsible for 40% of Japan’s energy-related carbon dioxide emissions. They aim to halt emissions that exceed the limits necessary to meet international climate goals.
Genesis B. v. United States Environmental Protection Agency. On December 10, 2023, 18 children from California filed a constitutional climate lawsuit against the EPA, accusing it of permitting harmful climate pollution from fossil fuels. On May 8, 2024, Judge Fitzgerald dismissed the case but allowed the plaintiffs to amend their complaint. The amended complaint was filed on May 20, and on July 22, the defendants moved to dismiss it again. The plaintiffs’ attorneys will respond to this motion by August 12, 2024.
Fridays for Future Estonia vs. Environmental Board, Tallinn Administrative Court, Estonia. Fridays for Future Estonia filed a new lawsuit in June 2024 to halt the operation of a state-owned shale oil plant, arguing it would hinder Estonia's climate goals and violate the Paris Agreement. The Tallinn Administrative Court temporarily blocked the plant's operation until July 12th, 2024, but later denied further protection. The case highlights concern over increased emissions, cumulative environmental impacts, and the rights of children and future generations under the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. Read more here.
PUBLICATIONS
Article. “Older people will die of old age. I’ll die of climate change”: engaging children and young people in climate decision making for public health”, by Grace Arnot, Samantha Thomas, Hannah Pitt, Simone McCarthy & Elyse Warner.
Article. “Los niños y jóvenes como litigantes climáticos ante el Tribunal Europeo de Derechos Humanos: el caso Duarte Agostinho”, by Laura García Martín.
Article. “Dal caos all’ordine (e viceversa): l’impatto del trittico della Corte EDU sul contenzioso climatico europeo di diritto privato”, by Lorenzo Serafinelli.
Editorial. “Adolescence and Youth in the Post-Anthropocene”, by Peter Appelbaum.