Understanding climate
for the benefit of society

Climate changes and human rights

The Bjerknes Centre will participate when the new Oslo principles are presented and discussed during COP21 in Paris. 

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During COP21 in Paris, the Bjerknes Centre will together with UNESCO,  Global Justice Program at Yale University and Comparative Research Programme on Poverty at UiB, organise an event on December 7th. The event takes place at the UNESCO pavilion at COP21 and the UNESCO headquarters. The main objective is to present and discuss our obligations to reduce climate changes, especially by focusing on the newly adopted Oslo principles.

Full-day programme is accessible here, and click here to get the poster for the event.

Human rights

International law defines several obligations we must follow to protect and promote basic human rights. Human rights that are threatened by climate change include the right to health, water, food and a clean environment. Climate changes also effects people’s ability to exercise these rights. During the presentations the experts will point out the legal obligations of states and companies to implement the urgent measures necessary to stop climate change and its catastrophic effects.

The event will present and discuss the Oslo Principles on Global Obligations to Reduce Climate Change adopted on 1 March 2015 by a group of experts in international law, human rights and environmental law.

Scientists from the Bjerknes Centre and the Potsdam Institute for Climate Research in Germany will present and discuss the state of the climate, projections and risks, as an introduction to the Oslo Principles.

CROP – Book launch

Poverty eradication is among the most pressing global challenges for our generation. Climate changes threaten the welfare of the world’s population and it is often the most vulnerable that experience the worst consequences. The new book “Poverty and the Millennium Development Goals: A critical look forward” will be presented during the event.

The book offers a critique of the existing development agenda and signals a need to establish an independent and transparent methodology for measuring results and responsibility. The book is the last edition of a series of books published by CROP, and is expected published in February 2016.