Ongoing investigation of the project continues regardless of advance repayment of loan The IDB Group concluded the loan for Hidroituango prematurely as they face uncertainty regarding project initiating operations. The investigation process regarding non-compliance with IDB policies in Hidroituango continues, regardless of the early termination of the loan. The construction of the Hidroituango dam, a … Read More.
Civil Society, Indigenous Peoples, Workers and Trade Unions, Youth, Women’s Organizations Urge UN Member States to Negotiate a Global Legally Binding Agreement to Address the Plastics Crisis. December 14th, 2021 GENEVA — Today, over 700 groups from 113 countries called upon United Nations Member States to agree to establish a legally binding global instrument — … Read More.
The Good Policy Paper assesses current policy provisions at independent accountability mechanisms, identifying best practices and areas for improvement. FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE December 13, 2021 Washington, DC — The Good Policy Paper: Guiding Practice from the Policies of Independent Accountability Mechanisms, published today, is a roadmap for financial institutions setting up new independent accountability mechanisms … Read More.
Panels to Discuss the Urgent Need to Establish a New Legally Binding International Instrument to Address the Plastic Crisis. On Wednesday, December 14th, 2021, members of governments, representative organizations, and groups from civil society, Indigenous People, workers, and trade unions will launch a call to action for United Nations Member States to agree to establish … Read More.
December 8th, 2021 BRUSSELS — In a bid to become a global leader on reducing methane emissions, the European Commission plans to table its proposal for a Methane Regulation this 14 December – but it’s expected that it will not include full coverage of supply chains, nor inclusion of petrochemicals, as the European Parliament had … Read More.
Any negotiation with the Ngäbe and Buglé Indigenous peoples over Panama’s Fourth Transmission Line must comply with Panamanian and international law (español abajo) November 24, 2021 Last Wednesday, Panama’s state-owned Electrical Transmission Company (ETESA) announced that it had reached an agreement with certain Indigenous authorities to allow Panama’s Fourth Electrical Transmission Line to cross the … Read More.
November 18, 2021 Washington, DC — Following US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken’s announcement that the United States supports the development of a global agreement to end plastic pollution, Jane Patton, Plastic and Petrochemical Campaign Manager at the Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) issued the following statement: “We welcome the announcement that the United … Read More.
November 13, 2021 SCOTLAND – In Glasgow, the 26th Conference of the Parties (COP26) of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) failed. It failed to recognize the urgency of the accelerating climate crisis; failed to deliver critically needed finance to the Global South; failed to close massive loopholes in a looming carbon market … Read More.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE November 12, 2021 Glasgow, UK — Governments should not miss their last chance to embed human rights in the outcome text of COP26, according to international charities. Climate Outreach, ActionAid, CARE, and the Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) told negotiators they have a responsibility to make sure human rights are not … Read More.
November 10, 2021 Glasgow, Scotland — Following the bracketing of human rights in Article 6 draft text and continued limits on public participation, Erika Lennon, Senior Attorney at the Center for International Environmental Law, issued the following statement: “With only days left before the end of COP26, any attempt to conclude Article 6 negotiations without … Read More.
CIEL Director to provide expert testimony on the intersection of illegal logging and criminal activities during upcoming House Subcommittee hearing November 3, 2021 Washington, DC — Carla García Zendejas, Director of People, Land, and Resources at the Center for International Environmental Law, will provide expert testimony on the illegal timber trade during an upcoming House … Read More.
November 1, 2021 Glasgow — As global climate talks get underway in Scotland, 725 groups from nearly 100 countries are calling on governments and leading international institutions to end reliance on hollow “Net Zero” promises and commit to specific, ambitious, and immediate actions to bring emissions and fossil fuel production down to Real Zero, consistent … Read More.
October 26, 2021 GLASGOW, UK / WASHINGTON, DC – Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) experts will be in Glasgow and available for comment during the 26th Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP26) from November 1 – November 12. Originally intended to serve as a litmus test for … Read More.
CIEL and Sociedad Cooperativa de Producción Pesquera Puerto Chale (S.C.L). file an amicus curiae related to Don Diego, a seabed mining project that raises environmental and human rights concerns October 21, 2021 (Español abajo) Baja California Sur, Mexico / Washington, DC, USA —On Tuesday, October 12, the Sociedad Cooperativa de Producción Pesquera Puerto Chale and … Read More.
A comprehensive report from the UN Special Rapporteur on Toxics showcases plastics’ harms to human rights and why global responses must be rights-based. October 20, 2021 New York, NY — Following the release of the Special Rapporteur on Toxics and Human Rights, Professor Marcos A. Orellana’s report, “The stages of the plastics cycle and their … Read More.
A new multi-media report shows, for the first time, the Permian Basin’s huge global climate impact and environmental justice threat to communities from New Mexico to the Gulf Coast. October 19, 2021 El Paso, TX — Oil Change International, Earthworks, and the Center for International Environmental Law are releasing a new multi-media report series entitled The Permian … Read More.
October 12, 2021 (Español abajo) Bucaramanga, Bogotá, Washington, Ottawa — National and international civil society organizations are widely rejecting the decision made by the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID) on September 10 in the case of Eco Oro v. Colombia, for at least three reasons: we consider that (i) it is inconsistent … Read More.
In long-awaited decisions, the UN Human Rights Council recognizes the universal right to a safe, clean, healthy, and sustainable environment and creates a Special Rapporteur on human rights and climate change October 8, 2021 Geneva, CH — From the opening remarks of High Commissioner Michelle Bachelet focusing on the right to a healthy environment to … Read More.
From Taiwan to Texas, Cambodia to Cancer Alley; Petrochemical Giant Poses Threat to Communities and the Environment October 6, 2021 Washington, DC — Formosa Plastics Group’s six-decade track record is riddled with environmental, health, safety, and labor violations, including devastating accidents and persistent pollution in multiple countries, according to a comprehensive new report released today. … Read More.
September 30, 2021 (Español abajo) Washington, DC — Six years after the start of the largest illegal logging case in Peru’s history, prosecutors are filing criminal charges against those allegedly responsible for having participated in the supply chain of illegal logging and timber trafficking of $1.6 million of Amazonian wood intended for export to the … Read More.
The right to science plays an essential role in both public communications regarding toxics and the science-policy interface September 21, 2021 Geneva, CH — Following the release of the Special Rapporteur on Toxics and Human Rights, Professor Marcos A. Orellana’s report, “Right to science in the context of toxic substances” at the 48th Session of … Read More.
Civil society groups ask TSX Venture Exchange to set record straight on oil and gas drilling in the Okavango region September 16, 2021 (Toronto, ON) — Civil society groups have submitted a request to the TSX Venture Exchange (TSX-V) to investigate potential misrepresentations in the disclosures and public communications of Canadian oil and gas company … Read More.
Mandate holder that addresses the link between human rights and climate change is overdue September 15, 2021 Geneva, CH — Following an announcement that a resolution to establish a Special Rapporteur on Human Rights and Climate Change will come forward during the 48th Session of the Human Rights Council, Francesca Mingrone, Attorney at the Center … Read More.
The Center for International Environmental Law calls upon the Human Rights Council Member States to take urgent action in the upcoming weeks September 14, 2021 Geneva, CH — Following an announcement that the Core Group on Human Rights and the Environment is bringing forward a resolution to recognize universally the right to a safe, clean, … Read More.
International NGOs applaud the draft resolution as a significant step in addressing the plastic crisis September 3, 2021 Geneva — The first-ever Ministerial Conference on marine litter and plastic pollution saw the introduction of a groundbreaking draft resolution recommending a legally binding global mechanism addressing the plastic crisis. Now, the Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA) and … Read More.
August 19, 2021 Geneva — On World Humanitarian Day, the Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) issued the following statement: “From Nicaragua to Uganda, to Belarus, more and more human rights defenders and civil society organizations (CSOs) are facing unprecedented and increasing threats and closures due to their activities in defense of communities. For years, … Read More.
Report exposes how failure to act on the climate emergency has led to permanent climate damage August 9, 2021 Washington, DC — Following the release of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s Report on The Physical Science Basis of Climate Change —the first part of the Sixth Assessment Report— the Center for International Environmental Law … Read More.
August 2, 2021 Washington, DC — Following the introduction of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act Carroll Muffett, President and CEO of the Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) issued the following statement: “The Infrastructure bill offers minimal support to accelerate the renewable energy transition while squandering tens of billions on carbon capture, fossil hydrogen, … Read More.
As the impact study for the Fourth Electrical Transmission Line moves forward, the Panamanian government must fulfill its obligation to respect Indigenous peoples’ rights FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE July 30, 2021 (español abajo) Today marks the deadline for companies to submit bids to perform “Analysis Services, Preliminary Studies and Consultancy for the Preparation of the Environmental … Read More.
Washington, DC — Today, nearly 70 organizations are expressing deep concern about the eruption of state violence in Eswatini. Reports out of Eswatini indicate that, since late June, the army and police forces have killed dozens of unarmed civilians and injured around 1,000 people, including by shooting indiscriminately at and wounding protesters. The government has … Read More.
500+ Organizations Call on US and Canadian Leaders to Reject Carbon Capture and Storage as a False Solution to Climate Crisis Washington, DC / Ottawa, ON — In an open letter sent today to leaders in the United States and Canada, more than 500 US, Canadian, and international organizations called on policymakers in both … Read More.
Washington, DC — Today, the World Heritage Committee added 13 cultural sites to UNESCO’s World Heritage List, including the Roșia Montană Mining Landscape in Romania. The site was simultaneously inscribed into the List of World Heritage in Danger, pending the removal of threats to its integrity posed by extractive activities. The inscription comes after years … Read More.
As new CAO policy takes effect, IFC and MIGA must also implement reforms to improve accountability and ensure access to remedy FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (Español abajo) Washington, DC — Even as a new policy governing the work of the Compliance Advisor Ombudsman (CAO), the accountability mechanism of the International Finance Corporation (IFC) and Multilateral Investment … Read More.
New Article in Science Argues that a Bold, Comprehensive, Full Life Cycle Approach to the Plastic Pollution Crisis is Necessary Geneva — Attempts to regulate plastic through regional or piecemeal approaches are ultimately insufficient to address the scale and projected expansion of the industry. Instead, a team of attorneys and academics argue in an article … Read More.
Panels to Discuss the Growing Risks and Unequal Impact of Dangerous Technological Fixes Once relegated to the fringe of the climate debate, proposals to use solar geoengineering to mask the impacts of planetary warming are receiving increasing attention from scientists, the government, and the media. While conversations often center around “silver bullet fixes” they too … Read More.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE June 2, 2021 Washington, DC — Environmental groups sued the United States International Development Finance Corporation (DFC) today for illegally exempting itself from the Sunshine Act, which requires multi-member federal agencies to open deliberations to the public. The DFC provides billions of dollars in financing each year to international projects, including fracking … Read More.
Dutch Court Rules that Shell Must Cut Direct and Indirect Emissions 45% by 2030 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 26, 2021 Washington, DC — Today’s historic ruling in the Netherlands sends a clear signal to the oil and gas industry: continuing business-as-usual production of fossil fuels amidst the climate emergency is fundamentally incompatible with corporate duties to … Read More.
Washington, DC — Today, Guyanese citizens filed the first constitutional climate case in the Caribbean to challenge fossil fuel production on the grounds that it exacerbates global warming and threatens human rights. The case, before Guyana’s Constitutional Court, claims that Guyana’s approval of a massive, ExxonMobil-led oil and gas buildout off the country’s coast violates … Read More.
(Español abajo) Washington, DC— Following protests across Colombia that have been met with violence by police and security forces and led to the deaths of at least 19 people, Carla García Zendejas, Director of the People, Land, and Resources Program at the Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) issued the following statement: “CIEL joins in … Read More.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE April 29, 2021 Washington, DC — A new report released today by the Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) examines the mounting risks that the unmanaged shutdown of oil and gas wells poses to communities, governments, and investors, and argues that confronting the toxic legacy oil and gas leaves behind is a … Read More.
An evaluation of the bank’s accountability mechanism failed to recommend changes needed to improve the IDB’s accountability system or to respond to the needs of citizens in Latin America and the Caribbean. FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE April 27, 2021 Washington, DC — Last week, an Office of Evaluation of Oversight (OVE) evaluation of the Independent Consultation … Read More.
Climate Leaders Summit Needs to Deliver Bold Action to Phase Out Fossil Fuels Washington, DC — Being a climate leader means keeping all fossil fuels in the ground and accelerating a just transition for workers and communities. US President Biden and other heads of state from major emitting countries gathered at the Climate Leadership Summit … Read More.
Brussels — Today, leading international health and environmental groups released a letter to European leaders urging immediate action to ban the sale and use of face masks and other personal protective equipment containing nanographene and other nanoparticles. The demand comes days after Canadian health authorities released a public advisory and ban on disposable masks containing … Read More.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (español abajo) March 23, 2021 On Monday, the UN Committee on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights drew attention to the impacts of transmission line projects, among other infrastructure projects such as hydroelectric dams, which have endangered the fundamental rights of Indigenous peoples in Panama. The Committee further noted the importance of protecting … Read More.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (Español abajo) WASHINGTON, March 16, 2021— During today’s adoption of the outcome of Panama’s third Universal Periodic Review (UPR), Indigenous Ngäbe leader Feliciano Santos addressed the United Nations Human Rights Council about the need for Panama to redouble its efforts to meet its international obligations regarding the rights of Indigenous peoples. Mr. Santos … Read More.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (Español abajo) March 9, 2021 The United Nations Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights is initiating a periodic review of the situation of these fundamental human rights in Panama, including the right of every person to a standard of living adequate for health and well-being and to participate in the cultural … Read More.
NEW ORLEANS, LA – Today, human rights experts appointed by the United Nations Human Rights Council released a statement raising “serious concerns” about further industrialization of Cancer Alley in Louisiana, saying that the “development of petrochemical complexes is a form of environmental racism.” The statement comes after years of campaigning by Louisiana residents and the … Read More.
Geneva, Switzerland–Today, the UNFCCC released its initial Nationally Determined Contribution Synthesis Report, tallying the greenhouse gas emission reduction commitments of countries that had submitted their plans as of December 2020. The countries included in the report represent 40% of the parties to the Paris Agreement and account for 30% of global greenhouse gas emissions. The … Read More.
Geneva, Switzerland—Today, civil society and Indigenous Peoples’ organizations sent a formal request to meet with the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) Director-General Qu Dongyu to discuss widespread public concern with FAO’s announcement last November of plans to formalize a partnership with CropLife International (CLI) — the global trade association of the world’s biggest agrochemical … Read More.
CIEL Statement on IACHR Precautionary Measures regarding defender in Nicaragua February 9, 2021 (español abajo) Washington, DC—Recognizing the active threat to Nicaraguan environmental defender, Olman Salazar Umanor, the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights has requested the adoption of Precautionary Measures to protect Mr. Salazar Umanor and his family. Mr. Salazar Umanor is a member of … Read More.
A longstanding human rights and environmental advocate, Ambassador Khan has the potential to drive the Human Rights Council towards better inclusivity and accountability Geneva – On January 15, the Human Rights Council elected Fiji’s Ambassador Nazhat Shameem Khan as its President for 2021. In response to the election, Sébastien Duyck, Senior Attorney, Climate & Energy … Read More.
Washington, D.C. – The United States Supreme Court heard arguments today in BP PLC v. Mayor and City Council of Baltimore, the latest salvo in the oil industry’s efforts to prevent the rising tide of climate lawsuits across the country from being heard on their merits. Relying on an arcane procedural statute, industry defendants have … Read More.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (español abajo) January 6, 2021 Washington, DC — In the wake of today’s attack on the United States Congress, CIEL President Carroll Muffett issued the following statement. Donald John Trump poses a clear and present danger to public safety, democracy, constitutional order, and the rule of law in the United States. His … Read More.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 22 December 2020 Washington, DC — In a decision that disappointed climate advocates while offering little comfort to oil producers or investors, the Norwegian Supreme Court today upheld the government’s 2011 and 2013 grants of exploration licenses in the Arctic but put a big question mark on whether any oil discovered could … Read More.
U.N. review of human rights in Panama reveals a need for greater protection of territorial rights and the lack of a firm commitment to ensuring Free, Prior, and Informed Consent FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE November 13, 2020 (español abajo) During the thirty-sixth session of the Universal Periodic Review (UPR), which concludes today at the seat of … Read More.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE October 26, 2020 Washington, DC — A new investigative report published today in Energy & Environment News reveals that leading US auto companies were on notice of links between climate change and fossil fuels by the late 1950s and actively conducting climate-relevant research nearly a half-century ago. The report couples research and … Read More.
International NGOs Welcome the Announcement, Urging Quick Take-up from the Human Rights Council October 16, 2020 Geneva — Faced with the increased human rights threats caused by climate change across the region, The Foreign Ministers’ Meeting of the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) is calling upon the PIF Leaders to work towards the establishment of … Read More.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE October 12, 2020 (Español abajo) As many Indigenous Peoples throughout the Americas observe October 12th as a Day of Resistance, the Indigenous Ngäbe, Buglé, and Campesino Peoples declare that Panama’s Fourth Electrical Transmission Line is replicating a pattern of marginalization and subjugation that has been perpetuated against their peoples for centuries. Within the … Read More.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE September 28, 2020 (Español abajo) Washington, DC — Amid suspicions that mining interests in Nicaragua are advancing through intimidation and illegal acquisition of land, the Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) is informing the United Nations and Inter-American human rights systems of potential abuses. The following is a statement from Carla García … Read More.
(Gothenburg, Sweden) As people and ecosystems around the world are increasingly exposed to multiple and interacting hazardous chemicals, experts from leading international law and global chemical safety organizations are releasing a groundbreaking report that offers a clear pathway to finance the control and regulate toxic chemicals and waste: a producer-pays tax on basic chemicals. The … Read More.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE September 8, 2020 Washington, DC — More than 40 organizations sent a letter today to US Department of the Interior Secretary David Bernhardt, the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement, US Coast Guard, and the US Occupational Health and Safety Administration urging them to address recent outbreaks of COVID-19 in the oil and gas … Read More.
Freedom of Information Act-released documents expose how US trade negotiations may undermine Kenya’s progress on plastic and chemical safety Washington, DC—Investigative reports by the New York Times and Unearthed reveal close coordination between chemical and plastic industry representatives and Trump Administration officials as they negotiate a trade deal with Kenya that would undo environmental and … Read More.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE August 21, 2020. Chilean organizations, Citizen Coordinator “No Alto Maipo” (CCNAM) and Ecosistemas, with US-based organization Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) applaud the recent statement issued by the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the human rights to drinking water and sanitation, Léo Heller, where he warns that “the Chilean government would … Read More.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Monday, August 10, 2020 Washington, DC–The United Nations Human Rights Committee is taking further steps to review Guyana’s human rights obligations. Following the Committee’s July meeting, they are now requesting that Guyana respond to questions about how the nation’s recent expansion into offshore oil production will impact human rights. The Committee specifically … Read More.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE August 9, 2020–On the International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples, a coalition of Panamanian indigenous organizations and international allies call on the State of Panama to take the necessary measures to protect Indigenous Peoples’ rights, territory, and health before approving any project that could affect them, including Panama’s Fourth Electrical Transmission … Read More.
On July 17, 2020 and as part of its forty-fourth session, the United Nations Human Rights Council appointed Dr. Marcos A. Orellana for the position the Special Rapporteur on the implications for human rights of the environmentally sound management and disposal of hazardous substances and wastes. Statement by David Azoulay, Environmental Health Director at the … Read More.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE July 10, 2020 Geneva — Today, the European Parliament adopted a resolution on the Chemicals Strategy for Sustainability by an overwhelming majority. The following is a statement from Giulia Carlini, Environmental Health attorney at the Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) on today’s vote: “In the seven years since the World Health … Read More.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE July 9, 2020 Washington, DC—Amidst the ongoing pandemic crisis, the oil majors are racking up debt and selling off assets, in moves that aim to project stability but instead reveal the industry’s increasing fragility. A new brief released today by the Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) highlights the latest signals that … Read More.
CIEL President Joins Expert Panel to Discuss Mounting Risks Washington, DC—Carroll Muffett, President of the Center for International Environmental Law President will address a congressional briefing this afternoon on the intersecting human health risks of plastics, COVID-19, and the climate crisis. Muffett will appear as part of the House Oversight and Reform Environment Subcommittee’s briefing … Read More.
Green Groups Denounce Europe’s “Do As I Say, Not As I Do” Policy In April of last year, the European Union joined Norway in co-sponsoring amendments to the world’s only waste treaty to establish new trade controls on the dirtiest and most unrecyclable plastic wastes. These amendments were passed in response to countless human rights … Read More.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE July 6, 2020 The IDB’s Independent Consultation and Investigation Mechanism concluded in its report on the Alto Maipo Hydroelectric Project that the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) breached its policies, since the company implementing the project failed to: carry out any assessment of gender-differentiated impacts, despite the large number of workers brought into … Read More.
Geneva, Switzerland–Facing a mounting democratic crisis and a looming environmental crisis due to offshore oil development, Guyana will report on its human rights record before the United Nations Human Rights Committee, which convenes this week in Geneva. The Justice Institute Guyana and the Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) are urging the Committee to join … Read More.
40+ groups express outrage over arrests of Louisiana Bucket Brigade leaders, vow to stop Formosa’s plans to poison the Black community in St. James BATON ROUGE, LA: Two leaders of the Louisiana Bucket Brigade were charged under Louisiana’s felony “terrorizing” law today for placing a box filled with Formosa Plastics’ illegally discharged plastic pellets, called … Read More.
Launch of Group of Friends to Combat Marine Plastic is a Meaningful Step Toward a Global Treaty Geneva–The following is a statement from Andrés Del Castillo, Senior Attorney, Environmental Health Program at the Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) on today’s launch of the Group of Friends to Combat Marine Plastic: “Plastic is now an … Read More.
Washington, DC—The Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) stands in solidarity with protestors around the world who are demanding an end to institutionalized racism, racialized police violence, and the ongoing dehumanization of people of color. CIEL condemns the violence that militarized police and security forces have used–and continue to use–against protestors, journalists, bystanders, and medical … Read More.
May 27, 2020 The company’s biggest play outside the US Permian Basin presents significant climate risks As ExxonMobil holds its 2020 Annual Meeting of Shareholders today, the Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) calls on the company to stop flaring gas offshore in Guyana, the site of its biggest oil development outside the U.S. Permian … Read More.
Film Unearthed by Dutch Researcher Demonstrates BP Knew the Risk of Its Products and the Categories of Harms they Would Create Washington, DC—Ahead of British Petroleum’s Annual General Meeting tomorrow, Dutch think tank Changerism and investigative platform Follow the Money released a new expose on What Makes Weather?, a recently unearthed climate video produced by … Read More.
The following is a statement from David Azoulay, the Director of Environmental Health at the Center for International Environmental Law. “Last night’s styrene gas leak in Visakhapatnam exposed thousands of individuals to a deadly asphyxiant—-the total number of people affected will not be known for some time. Early reports indicate that the LG Polymer plant … Read More.
Climate, social justice, and progressive groups applaud the new ReWIND Act as an important measure to prevent a Big Oil Bailout FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 5, 2020 WASHINGTON, DC—Hundreds of environmental, social justice, labor, and progressive organizations applauded the release of the ReWIND Act, new legislation introduced today that would block a Big Oil Bailout … Read More.
May 1, 2020 – Today, the Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) welcomes Nikki Reisch as Director of its Climate and Energy Program. Nikki brings more than fifteen years of experience working in the fields of human rights and environmental justice, having devoted her career to advancing the rights of marginalized populations and protecting the … Read More.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE April 16, 2020 Washington, DC — As countries and communities race to address the massive health and economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, oil, gas, and petrochemical producers are lobbying aggressively to secure government bailouts and regulatory rollbacks from governments around the world. A new report released today by the Center for International … Read More.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE April 21, 2020 New York, NY—Environmentalists are blasting attempts by oil and gas companies to hijack the Fed’s Main Street Lending Program in order to pay down their debt—debt that began skyrocketing long before the coronavirus impacted the industry. “Big Oil is looking to steal as big a piece of the stimulus … Read More.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE April 10, 2020 NEW YORK, NY — The news that major US banks like JPMorgan Chase are preparing to ask regulators to allow them to take direct ownership of oil and gas companies should ring major alarm bells on Capitol Hill and across the nation, according to organizations with the Stop the … Read More.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE April 2, 2020 Tasneem Essop, Executive Director, Climate Action Network (CAN): “At this moment, all our efforts are focused on fighting the Covid19 pandemic. Governments must prioritise the health, safety and jobs of their citizens. Under these circumstances, we acknowledge the necessity to postpone the Bonn climate session to later this year … Read More.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (español abajo) March 24, 2020 Santiago / Geneva — Today, the UN Committee on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights (CESCR) shined a light on the impacts of the Alto Maipo Hydroelectric Project, which has put Chileans’ fundamental rights at risk. In its “List of Issues” to be covered during Chile’s periodic review, … Read More.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE March 23, 2020 Washington, DC — This afternoon, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi introduced the Take Responsibility for Workers and Families Act, the emergency stimulus bill released in response to the COVID-19 crisis. Carroll Muffett, President of the Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL), issued the following statement: “The Take Responsibility for Workers … Read More.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE March 13, 2020 A coalition of environmental and human rights organizations that includes Amnesty International USA, the Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL), Environmental Law Alliance Worldwide (ELAW), and New York University School of Law’s Global Justice Clinic, as well as four experts in international law, yesterday submitted an amicus brief to … Read More.
Over 100 organizations release statement in solidarity with the people of Guyana, demanding respect for rule of law and prevention of further violence FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE March 10, 2020 Georgetown — More than 100 environmental and human rights organizations and eminent persons from around the world issued an urgent statement today expressing solidarity with the … Read More.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (español abajo) March 9, 2020 The United Nations Committee on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights (UN CESCR) is undertaking a periodic review of the situation of fundamental human rights in Chile, such as the rights to water, to health, to adequate food and housing, and to participate in cultural life. Ahead of … Read More.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (español abajo) March 3, 2020 Panama City/Washington, DC—The International Finance Corporation (IFC), the private arm of the World Bank, will be investigated for possible violations of the rights of Indigenous Peoples in the context of its financing of an electrical transmission line in Panama. The Fourth Transmission Line (“PL IV”), which is … Read More.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE March 3, 2020 As the climate crisis worsens, human rights bodies have increasingly recognized its impacts on human rights and called on States to fulfill their human rights obligations in the context of a changing climate, reveals a new report released today. 2019 brought a new wave of statements by human rights … Read More.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE February 13, 2020 Yesterday, a Guyanese court issued a ruling in a judicial review action brought against the government and three companies — Esso (Exxon), Hess, and CNOOC Nexen — for failing to comply with the Environmental Protection Act. “Ironically, this ruling comes just as a new study shows the Deepwater Horizon disaster … Read More.
January 2020 Washington, DC — The Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) denounces an ongoing wave of intimidation, retaliation, and criminalization targeting Nicaraguan environmental defenders and community leaders who have publicly opposed plans for a controversial gold mining project in Santa Cruz de la India, Nicaragua. On December 18, 2019, a group of approximately 15 … Read More.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE January 17, 2020 Today, the Ninth Circuit delivered its ruling in Juliana v United States, the landmark climate case brought by 21 youth plaintiffs against the US government for violating their constitutional rights to a livable climate. “What is remarkable about this decision, and what will land it in legal textbooks for … Read More.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE January 1, 2020 Washington, DC – The Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) is excited to announce that Amanda Kistler will serve in a new position as CIEL’s Vice President, effective January 1. In this role, Amanda helps to shape CIEL’s strategic vision and translate it into ambitious but achievable goals and … Read More.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE December 15, 2019 Madrid, Spain – UN climate talks ended today, delivering an outcome that falls woefully short of meeting the urgency and ambition needed to confront the climate crisis. The agreement, gaveled through on Sunday, adds to rising frustration that world governments have once again have failed to do what is … Read More.
December 12, 2019 The European Commission’s “European Green Deal” includes a Roadmap of policy initiatives on everything from reducing emissions, to implementing a circular economy, to protecting health and well-being. Its climate chapter provides a comprehensive set of measures across key policy areas, yet the ambition and timeline for enhanced mitigation action remains below what … Read More.
December 9, 2019 Madrid, Spain – At the United Nations climate negotiations (COP25) today, the national Commission on Human Rights of the Philippines announced the findings and recommendations from its path-breaking four-year inquiry into the human rights impacts of climate change in the Philippines and the contribution of 47 Carbon Major companies to those impacts. … Read More.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE December 9, 2019 MADRID, SPAIN — Chilean activists present at the UN Climate Conference in Madrid (COP-25) are calling on negotiators to learn from the human rights violations and environmental damage caused by a hydroelectric project registered under the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM). They urge world leaders to ensure Article 6 of … Read More.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE December 5, 2019 Today, the Ban Amendment to the Basel Convention, a global prohibition on dumping hazardous waste, enters into force almost 25 years after its adoption and officially becomes international law. The Ban Amendment prohibits the world’s wealthiest countries (OECD, EU member states, Liechtenstein) from exporting hazardous waste to non-OECD countries … Read More.