Making climate inaction illegal: this is the new weapon of environmental defenders. In five years, climate-related disputes have more than doubled, according to a study published Thursday, July 27 by the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP). To compel governments and companies to act against global warming, citizens, children and indigenous communities are increasingly turning to the courts. A trend that is also developing in Africa.
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Although most climate-related trials take place in the United States, the African continent is also beginning to favor the legal route to force climate action. Of the approximately 2,000 procedures identified, just over 2% were recorded in Africa.
For now, these climate disputes have been filed in three countries: Uganda, Nigeria and Kenya. At the regional level, the East African Court of Justice is currently considering a complaint brought by civil society organizations which accuse the governments of Tanzania and Uganda of negligence because of their construction project. a huge pipeline, especially in protected areas. A project that the NGO Human Rights Watch describes as ” disastrous for the populations of both countries.
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People who today are mobilizing and resisting like never before. This is one of the highlights of the UN report, which nevertheless warns against a ” backfire fearing that governments reluctant to act against global warming will attack environmental activists.
Complaints for climate inaction: the expertise of Renée Gift (UNEP)