Friday, October 19, 2012

The two FIELD papers below may be of interest to readers from SIDS.

The two FIELD papers below may be of interest to readers from SIDS.

“Loss and damage caused by climate change: legal strategies for vulnerable countries” (available at http://www.field.org.uk/news/climate-damage-new-legal-strategies) suggests that vulnerable countries may benefit from considering a range of options, including options beyond the UNFCCC and the Kyoto Protocol. The paper considers negotiations on loss and damage under the UNFCCC, dispute settlement under the UNFCCC or Kyoto Protocol, and international litigation. The paper then focuses on the evolving international law concept of reparations for damage. It suggests that vulnerable countries might consider pursuing a reparations-based strategy in international negotiations beyond the UNFCCC and the Kyoto Protocol, in particular negotiations about the UN’s post-2015 development agenda. The paper highlights new proposals about reparations, including proposals by Maxine Burkett related to climate reparations. FIELD believes that vulnerable countries should play a strong role in shaping how international law on reparations for climate change damage develops.

“International institutions and new sustainable development goals beyond 2015: climate change, poor and vulnerable countries” (at http://www.field.org.uk/news/beyond-2015-climate-poor-and-vulnerable-countries) argues that post-Rio + 20 changes to international institutions and proposed global sustainable development goals should give priority to climate change and poor and vulnerable countries. The paper highlights that the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the Kyoto Protocol recognize that particularly vulnerable countries and countries such as LDCs, LLDCs and SIDS require special attention and argues that this should also be reflected in changes to international institutions and in new sustainable development goals. The paper considers human security as a potential conceptual framework for strengthening international institutions and determining new goals. It emphasizes challenges for poor and vulnerable countries in a world where advancing climate change is likely to pose an increasing threat to sustainable development and human security.

FIELD would welcome comments on the papers (field@field.org.uk<mailto:field@field.org.uk>).


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