Page - 198 - in Loss and Damage from Climate Change - Concepts, Methods and Policy Options

198 F.SimlingerandB.Mayer Table7.1 Legal responses, their challengesandpotentialnext steps National laws Public law litigation Private law litigation Rationale Stateshaveobligations toprotect their citizens fromthe adverseeffectsof climatechange Companiesare responsible fordamages fromclimate changeand thecostsof remedial action Challenges Dismissalbasedon lackof legal causality Dismissalbasedonpolitical natureofclaim, international treatiesnotdirectly applicable tonational courts Dismissalbasedon lackof legal causality, complexity andmultiplicityofcausation Potential remedy Broader interpretationof causality; progress in attribution science Neworamendmentof existing laws Broader interpretationof causality; progress in attribution science.Newor amendmentofexisting laws Regionaland internationalhumanrights law Varioushumanrights to life andsafety Refugee law Rationale Stateshaveanobligation toensurehealthandsafetyof peoplewithin their jurisdiction Stateshaveanobligation to grant asylumtoclimate refugees Challenges Casesare likely tobe dismissedbasedon lackof legal causality Stateshavea“marginof appreciation”ofhumanrights Nosufficient legalbasis Potential remedy Courts applyabroader interpretationofcausality requirements Amending regional and internationalhumanrights treaties Enhancednegotiationand workon international levels suchasvia thePlatformon DisasterDisplacement Customary international law Rationale Stateshaveacustomaryobligationnot toharmother states and thereforemust refrain from emittinggreenhousegases that causeharmtoother states Challenges States areunlikely toagree to the jurisdictionof the ICJoran international tribunal Contentof theno-harmrule relating toclimatechange is unclear andnot specific enough Potential remedy Addressing fearsof escalating responsibility; limiting jurisdiction to specificproblems ICJor international tribunal issues judgmentoradvisory opinionon thatmatter; further researchon the relationship betweenclimate regimeand thecustomaryno-harmrule; further researchon required duediligence, especially relating to sustainable development Climatechangeregime Rationale States that excessivelyemitgreenhousegasesare inbreachof international treaties relating to theUNclimateconvention Challenges Obligationsarenot clear andspecificenough Potential remedy Addressing fearsof escalating responsibility; amending convention treaty text Enhancednegotiationsand workon the international level, suchas through the WIM