As the People vs. Arctic Oil Trial comes to an end, the battle against climate change continues in courtrooms around the world
After seven days of court hearings, the People vs. Arctic oil trial has come to an end.
We expect a judgment during the first weeks of January 2018.
This is our chance to take a look at what happened inside and outside the courtroom and at the growing movement of ordinary people doing extraordinary things to defend and restore our planet.
What happened inside the courtroom
Greenpeace and Nature and Youth argued that Article 112 of the Norwegian Constitution grants people and future generations the right to a healthy environment, which can be enforceable in the courts if the government’s actions violate that right. By opening up new areas for drilling for oil and gas in the Arctic, the Norwegian government is in violation of this article. This meant we could invoke the highest law in the land for this case - the Constitution.
While the State attorney called opening up a new area for drilling “an ordinary decision” it is anything but in these extraordinary times. We simply cannot afford to burn more oil if we want to keep the global average temperature rise to below 1.5C, as the world agreed in Paris.
Developed nations like Norway committed to take the lead under the Paris Agreement. Their efforts in combatting climate change should reflect the highest possible ambitions to maintain the temperature targets. But the Norwegian government is breaking their international commitment by opening up new areas for drilling in the Arctic.
What happened outside the courtroom
As the trial continued inside the court, something incredible was happening outside. The bank managing the largest wealth fund in the world, the Norwegian Central bank, recommended the Norwegian Government to divest from oil and gas. They were essentially echoing what our expert witnesses' were saying: there is great economic risk in the uncertainty of the future of oil and gas.
As the court listened to our arguments about how drilling for oil in the Arctic is also a human rights issue, affecting the lives of many outside of Norway, a UN Committee called upon Norway to revise its policy on Arctic oil drilling on the basis that that climate change disproportionately affects women.
The fight for climate justice continues not just in Norway but around the world. Ordinary people are paying attention and rising up:
21 youth plaintiffs sued the US government for failure to act on climate change. On 11 December 2017, the U.S. 9th Circuit Court will hear oral arguments on the latest attempt from the Trump administration to stop the case. If the youth prevail, we expect the trial to start on 5 February 2018.
The Commission on Human Rights in the Philippines have called on 47 carbon producers to attend its investigation into their responsibility for climate-related human rights abuses. On 11 December 2017, the Commission will hold its preliminary conference to consider witnesses and evidence and set the next steps of the inquiry.
An appeals court in Germany declared admissible a Peruvian Farmer’s claim against a German energy giant for contributing to climate change. On 30 November 2017, the Court will decide on next steps.
The Dutch government has filed an appeal against the successful climate case brought by Urgenda. The trial is set to begin on 28 May 2018.
Looking to the future
Over half a million people signed their name to support this court case.
The People vs. Arctic Oil trial may be over but the movement to hold governments and corporations accountable for climate change has begun - and it’s only going to get stronger!
Michelle Jonker-Argueta, Attorney Greenpeace International
Thanx you Michelle from Jennifer C .
Great article. What a thrill to hear about so many people standing up for their beliefs, human rights and the planet.
ReplyDeleteNo one said it would be easy. It is much easier to keep drilling and burning oil and letting the earth burn up. Bravo! to Green Peace, Nature representatives and to the Youth who are fighting back. This is the war of the future.
Go Michelle! and go Crusader!
All the love and support I can send you
Aunt Jeannie
Aunt Jeannie,
ReplyDeleteThis is a war worth fighting , everyone would win especially Mother Earth .
I am so thankful you told mama about Nanook and climate change , people said it was a hoax , now they are beginning to see that it's true that the earth is getting hotter , maybe faster that scientists think .
The crazy man in the white house has a big ego and really do not care about anyone but himself.
The media don't write much about the people working quietly to stop the the drilling , We are here and will stand our ground , people are beginning to get on board , we are only asking for them to tell their families and neighbors and the word will spread like wildfire .
Good always overcome evil and the man in the White House is evil . All he care about is money and feeding his ego . I really don't think he loves his family , he use them to make himself look good in the public eye.
Aunt Jeannie , I know you love us and will support us and you know how , I told Michelle that you was the start of me getting involved in Global Warming .
Poppa told us it is easy to get money , it is what you do with it is what you do with it is what counts .
Aunt Jeannie , you know it is true , this is the war of the future , the youths started fighting and now we demand to be heard , we want our kids to grow up in a safe place , all the youths of the world wants this . So yes we have just begun to fight .
Love you much
Jenny the Crusader
That's my Crusader talking. I have a lot of respect for you and all the kids and cubs who fight climate change. The world will listen to you more than they would to anyone else because your motives are pure and your cause is for the good of our planet. You are not selfish or self serving like the adult politicians of the world. With adults, it usually comes down to money. If going green and cutting back on carbon emissions is going to cost their countries money, they will whine and drag their feet and often refuse to co-operate. If our children speak up and make the politicians ashamed of themselves, things will move a lot faster.
ReplyDeleteI see you as the bright stars of our future and you give us hope.
Love
Aunt Jeannie