Human rights and human worngs: Critiquing human activities to prevent the climate change

Abstract

The looming catastrophe of environmental degradation has been reported, studied, analyzed and recognized thoroughly on a macro level; but, has it been touched on an individual level from a legal aspect? Environmental degradation is the outcome of global warming which is, indeed, a notorious art of humans themselves, who ostensibly portray themselves as guardians of the Earth. This art of humans is their various anti-nature activities resulting in global warming, which has adversely affected the lives of all human beings on earth. These deleterious effects due to climate change, from a legal perspective, have infringed the inalienable rights of all humans. The general cognizance of this legal perspective on this global issue is pertinent for the well-being of the contemporary generation, and also the generations to come. Climate change is one of the most difficult challenges confronted with International Law; arguably, the larger part of the change is attributed to human activities, relevant Human Rights Law and principles could be used as tools to critique the activities and thus cope with the challenge - to contain climate change for the survival of humanity. The various human activities since the First Industrial Revolution in the nineteenth century have paved the way for the destruction of the earth. These activities include deforestation to clear land for commercial purposes and to use the wood for several reasons; burning of fossil fuels for industrial, residential and transportation needs which have increased Green House Gases (GHGs) emissions manifolds in the atmosphere; the burgeoning global population which requires greater production of basic needs, and utilizes more of the nature’s resources and land mass; and manufacturing of luxurious items, and products of necessities which require setting up of industries which utilizes more fossil fuels, and pollutes water, atmosphere and land mass. All these human activities have indubitably, for the comfort of some compromised the natural rights of all. This study uses liberal critique methodology and critical analysis method to criticize the aforementioned human activities with the aid of human rights law. In a nutshell, climate change is triggered by numerous human wrongs and this imbroglio requires to be dealt with immediately by the entire world. This dissertation also provides some recommendations to deal with this quandary.