Final Conclusions working group 5: Climate Justice Tribunal

The peoples of the world have gathered at the World People’s Conference on Climate Change and the Rights of Mother Earth in the city of Cochabamba, Bolivia, from 19 to 22 April, 2010.  We, the Working Group of the Tribunal for Climate Justice, have made the following conclusions:

Working Group 5: Climate Justice Tribunal

As Indigenous Organizations and social movements we have met in the context of the PRE CONFERENCE OF INDIGENOUS PEOPLES AND SOCIAL ORGANIZATIONS, held in the city of Cochabamba from the 29^th and to the 30^th of March 2010, and we have constituted as the Working Group Nº 5 of Climate Justice Tribunal.

ENVIRONMENTAL COURT

The case for the Environmental Court:

Dear activists, esteemed delegates, panelists and participants,

”The promotion, development and determination of international Environmental Law is based on the recognition that the principal causes and effects of the world’s major environmental problems are international in nature and so require solutions which are also international and based on an equitable sense of Justice for all.

Environmental Cooperation among the nations of this earth and the multinational institutions, can only be achieved if there is an inherent Justice in the centre of any response and a high regard for human rights as the overriding concern and main principle of the global response to Climate Change.”

 Pano Kroko.  Chairman – Environmental Parliament 

International Climate Justice Tribunal

Objectives of the group in terms of debate and product:

– Assess whether an International Climate Justice Tribunal or alternatively an International Environmental Court is necessary or appropriate as a means to enforce states’ commitments to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

GROUP 5: CLIMATE JUSTICE TRIBUNAL

The UN Framework Convention on Climate Change contains no mechanisms for trying or sanctioning developed countries that fail to comply with their commitments to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Thus, President Evo Morales has proposed the creation of an International Climate Justice Tribunal at the United Nations.

Is an International Climate Justice Tribunal necessary? What should be its characteristics? What is the path toward establishing it under UN framework? This working group will analyze and develop a proposal for the creation of an International Climate Justice Tribunal.