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Environmental Human Rights: News & Updates

News Article

In 2023, global ocean heat reached record highs, Antarctic sea ice coverage fell to record lows, and global temperatures were approximately 1.4°C above pre-industrial levels, nearing the dangerous threshold of 1.5°C. This poses a risk of irreversible damage to ecosystems and severe consequences for vulnerable populations. Governments, particularly developed nations like the United States, must urgently implement policies to reduce emissions and limit warming to below 2°C, ideally 1.5°C, by halting fossil fuel expansion.

Outdated trade and investment agreements, including Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) and Bilateral Investment Treaties (BITs) with Investor-State Dispute Settlement (ISDS) provisions, threaten efforts to reduce fossil fuel use. ISDS allows corporations to sue governments in arbitration tribunals over policies that affect their profits, often leading to costly settlements and policy rollbacks. Nearly 20% of ISDS cases are initiated by fossil fuel companies, exemplified by TC Energy suing the U.S. for $15 billion over the Keystone XL pipeline rejection and Ruby River challenging Canada's rejection of a gas facility.

ISDS poses broader threats beyond climate policy, affecting public health, labor rights, and green jobs. Civil society movements globally are campaigning against ISDS, and some countries are terminating BITs. The Biden administration has committed not to pursue new agreements with ISDS, but further action is needed.

Recommendations include:

  1. Stopping the expansion of ISDS by publicly opposing new agreements with ISDS provisions.
  2. Removing ISDS from existing FTAs and BITs through termination or renegotiation.
  3. Withdrawing consent to ISDS claims unilaterally or via multilateral instruments.

Addressing ISDS is crucial to protect public interest policies and support climate action. The U.S. must lead in eliminating ISDS to safeguard the planet and its people.

News Article

Over 700 campesinos in Cartagena del Chairá, Colombia, are restoring 4,762 hectares of degraded rainforest, planting nearly a million trees in a deforestation hotspot. Collaborating with researchers from SINCHI and the Association of Community Action Boards (Asojuntas), they have documented over 600 plant and 100 animal species. This initiative, involving environmental education and restoration activities for all ages, has inspired many youths to pursue environmental careers. Economic pressures previously drove deforestation, but now, communities are actively replanting and protecting the forest, valuing its biodiversity and ecological importance. The restoration project has fostered environmental awareness and a commitment to sustainable development among locals, with a long-term vision of a greener, biodiverse future.

News Article

A new report from the Organization of American States (OAS) highlights the severe human rights crisis in Honduras, focusing on violence against environmental defenders, particularly in agrarian land disputes affecting Indigenous and Afro-descendant communities. The report underscores that many human rights abuses, including threats, murders, and violence, are disproportionately targeted at those defending the environment, land, and territory. The OAS recommends that the Honduran government improve land titling and strengthen institutions to hold perpetrators accountable. Long-standing agrarian conflicts, inadequate land titles, and large-scale industrial projects have exacerbated violence and social unrest. The report calls for better legislation to protect collective territories and ensure prior consultation processes for affected communities.

News Article

San Pedro Sula, Honduras, currently has the worst air quality in the Americas due to forest fires exacerbated by El Niño and climate change. IQAir reported PM2.5 levels at 249.1 mcg/m³, far above the WHO's safe limit of 5 mcg/m³. Authorities have issued high-level health warnings, closed schools, and advised residents to stay indoors. The health sector has seen a 20% rise in respiratory infections, with increased emergencies among children and seniors.

Thick smog has disrupted air travel, forcing flight diversions and airport closures. The El Niño phenomenon has intensified droughts and wildfires, particularly affecting Central America's "dry corridor." Over 2,500 fires have burned 211,292 hectares in Honduras this year. La Tigra national park near Tegucigalpa was nearly destroyed, harming the ecosystem.

Officials warn that without policy changes, such environmental crises could become more frequent, threatening millions. The International Federation of the Red Cross anticipates more climate-related disasters across Central America, highlighting the need for enhanced response preparations.

News Article

In a court hearing in San Salvador on April 10, a judge upheld charges against five anti-mining activists known as the Santa Marta Five. The activists, arrested in January 2023, face charges of "illicit association" and an alleged murder dating back to the Salvadoran Civil War. Supporters believe that Bukele's administration targets them for their roles in the country's mining ban. Despite being granted house arrest in August 2023, international support calls for justice, as concerns arise over the motive behind their criminalization and its threat to the mining ban.

The Santa Marta Five, including Teodoro Antonio Pacheco and Saúl Agustín Rivas Ortega, are esteemed community leaders who fought against the US-backed military dictatorship in the 1980s. They played pivotal roles in rebuilding their community post-civil war and organizing against foreign mining companies in the 2010s, leading to the historic mining ban of 2017. However, their detention under Bukele's administration raises concerns about legal rights.

Bukele's rise to power signifies a shift from the promises of the 1992 peace accords, as his administration undermines democratic principles and human rights. Despite his efforts to combat gang violence, his tactics, including indefinite detention without due process, draw criticism. The state of exception, declared in 2022 and now permanent, suspends civil and political rights, posing a threat to human rights and the rule of law. The broader implications extend to environmental activism and economic interests, overshadowing the fight against gang violence.

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