Eaten by the Sea: Human Rights Claims for the Impacts of Climate Change upon Remote Subnational Communities

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Abstract

The low-lying islands and atolls of the Pacific have been among the first places to experience the most severe impacts of anthropogenic climate change. Some of the affected islands are nation-states possessing the capacity to negotiate treaties and to directly participate in international forums such as the United Nations (UN). Others, however, are subnational jurisdictions, made up of people who live remote from the governing majority and yet are extremely vulnerable to national policy decisions, especially when it comes to climate change and its impacts. This article examines one potential avenue for redress for
minority populations living in remote subnational jurisdictions where national policy on climate change arguably compromises their human rights: a communication to the UN Human Rights Committee (HRC). The article takes as its primary case study the people of the Torres Strait Islands, which form part of the state of Australia.
Original languageEnglish
JournalJournal of Human Rights and the Environment
Volume9
Issue number2
Pages (from-to)171-193
Number of pages23
ISSN1759-7188
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2018

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