Pledges made by parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change put the world on course for temperature increases of 3 to 3.9 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels by 2100. Some researchers believe that even these projections are overly optimistic. Given the potentially disastrous implications of temperature rises of this magnitude, increasing attention has been devoted to climate geoengineering responses to climate change, including solar radiation management and carbon dioxide removal approaches. However, discussions of measures to protect the interests of peoples that may be negatively impacted by such interventions have been absent.

A human rights perspective on climate geoengineering highlights the importance of analyzing power relationships and emphasizes the critical importance of effective participation of individuals and communities in decision-making processes affecting their lives. It provides a compelling rationale for transboundary environmental impact assessment, right to information mandates, and other methods to ensure affected populations are represented in the decision-making process. Moreover, human rights regimes provide judicial or quasi-judicial mechanisms to defend the interests of those negatively affected by responses to climate change.

Sponsored by the International Human Rights Clinic, Human Rights Law Society, Law and Technology Society, and Environmental Law Society.

Lunch will be served.