Month: August 2022

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Ella Kiyomi Dobson

Ella Kiyomi Dobson graduated from Dartmouth College with a major in Environmental Studies and minor in Studio art. Currently, they are a research and teaching assistant at Dartmouth, working in the Ong Agroecology Lab. They are studying agroforestry practices on local farms, the effects of land use legacies on forest biodiversity and age, and teaching a summer undergraduate field course on agroecology.

They are particularly interested in the intersection of environmental and social issues pertaining to ecological conservation and food systems. With experience both working in the field of marine research, and sustainable food systems, they are interested in how socioenvironmental issues can be alleviated through education, social learning and community building.

In their spare time, they can be found in the rivers and lakes of Vermont, out for a walk with their dog Scooby, or cooking and eating delicious local produce!

Email: [email protected]

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Prudence Nhau

Prudence Nhau is a legal researcher based in Zimbabwe. She has bachelor’s degrees in Social science and Law from Rhodes University and a master’s degree in Public law from Stellenbosch University. 

Prudence developed an interest in research, environmental protection, and climate justice when she was doing a sustainable development course during her master’s. Since completing her studies in 2020, she has taken great interest in and participated in various environmental protection and climate adaptation projects in Zimbabwe.

Outside of work, Prudence enjoys watching basketball and crime documentaries, baking, and going on hikes.

Email: [email protected]

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Bangladesh Develops Resilient Cities to Accommodate Climate Migrants

3 August 2022 – by Ottoline Mary

As a low-lying country centred around a large delta plain, the geography of Bangladesh makes it particularly vulnerable to extreme weather events, which are exacerbated by global warming. The Climate Reality Project estimates that by 2050, one in every seven people in the country will have been displaced by climate-related disasters. Already, more than ten million Bangladeshis have lost their livelihoods to floods, and have been forced to relocate to other regions.

Most of them seek refuge in Dhaka, hoping for job opportunities. But the capital has become so overpopulated that the government is now encouraging the economic development of alternative destinations for climate migrants. This strategy, labelled “transformative adaptation”, is based on the work of Professor Saleemul Huq, director of the International Centre for Climate Change and Development (Dhaka). The goal is to “divert people to smaller urban centres with the capacity to expand and, crucially, jobs to sustain a rapidly growing workforce”.

Amongst them, one city stands out: the South-Western seaport of Mongla, where, in recent years, tens of thousands of dollars have been invested in climate-resilient infrastructure and in export processing industries. In addition, the government monitors the social inclusion of the city’s new residents – including in the field of education, through a dialogue with local schools and universities.

Mongla is currently celebrated for its uniqueness, but is designed as a prototype for future climate-resilient cities in Bangladesh and beyond. This type of initiative brings hope for forcibly displaced populations throughout the Global South, yet the situation remains extremely precarious, and the fight for climate justice is more urgent than ever.

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Recent Greenpeace Report Highlights the Neo-Colonial Dimension of Climate Change

Europe map

28 July 2022 – by Ottoline Mary

As a global dynamic generating an unfair distribution of power and wealth, colonialism is largely responsible for shaping the North-South divide that we witness today. Moreover, many aspects of our lives remain determined by its ongoing legacies. Whether glaring or more insidious, these legacies tend to underlie our relationship to the world, and should especially be factored in when analysing global events.

A recent Greenpeace report highlights the colonial roots of climate change.

“Colonisation established the model of a global extractive economy, [as well as] a model through which the air and lands of the Global South have been polluted or used as places to dump waste that the Global North does not want.“

Moreover, neo-colonial dynamics continue to protect the West from the consequences of its actions, while the rest of the world burns. The negative impacts of climate change tend to concentrate in regions that have barely contributed to the global greenhouse effect; this mismatch of vulnerability and responsibility coincides with a power imbalance stemming largely from colonialism.

The same dynamic is reproduced at a sub-national level in Western countries, where people of colour are overexposed to the consequences of climate change. For example, the London borough of Newham has both the highest level of air pollution and the highest Black, Asian, and other ethnic minority population in England.

By calling attention to the neo-colonial dimensions of climate change, this report provides us with conceptual tools to reflect on climate-induced migration – for instance, by supporting the inclusion of climate reparations in the global case for colonial reparations.

Read the report here!

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Torres Strait Islanders Finally Speak to the Australian Government over Climate Change Concerns

aerial photography of islands during daytime

29 July 2022 – by Ella Kiyomi Dobson

Torres Strait/Zenadh Kes Islander communities have been fighting for years to meet with the Australian government to express the devastating impacts climate change has on their homes. The lack of concern from the government resulted in a group of Torres Strait Islander people filing a complaint about the Australian government’s inaction to the UN Human Rights Committee, in addition to filing a lawsuit against the government. Still, last year the government refused to acknowledge the effect climate change has on this group of islands.

Torres Strait is a region on the northern tip of Queensland, Australia, home to low-lying islands inhabited by First Nations Australians. Previous research shows that the sea level rise on these islands is double that of the global average. From 2017 to 2021, Torres Strait Islanders saw a considerable amount of their land disappearing, with “eight metres get[ting] taken away” in just four years due to erosion, rising sea levels, and flooding. The shallowness of the islands lends itself and its communities to coastal inundation, which can contaminate water supply, destroy crops, wash away roads and the remains of loved ones, and damage sacred cultural sites. The communities rely on the sea for a large part of their diet, and one community member notes that “certain fish are not found on a particular reef when they used to be in the abundance. They are not there.” These threats of erosion, rising sea level and high investment in infrastructure are significant concerns that will continue to worsen over the coming years. 

After years of fighting, the Torres Strait Islander communities finally met with the Australian government to express the need for change and protections at the beginning of July. The Minister for Climate Change and Energy, Chris Bowen, has conceded that climate change does pose a “real and substantial” threat to these communities. Chris Bowen visited the Torres Strait Islands to hear first-hand what their concerns are, as well as to see the impacts these people are facing. While this may be a good first step, governments need to acknowledge and prioritise the concerns expressed by its people before it is too late to act. The consequence of the impacts on these islands may lead to the displacement of Torres Strait Islander people who have lived on the islands for more than 65,000 years. 

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Daven Camille

Daven Camille is a Business Systems specialist based in Australia, with expertise in data visualisation, corporate finance and process automation.

Drawing from his role within the sustainable infrastructure sector and service with the Australian Defence Force, Daven hopes to utilise his passion for delivering actionable information and implementing innovative solutions through his proven experience in data analytics, as well as risk and operational management strategies.

Daven’s love for adventures sees him chase every opportunity to meet new people, go new places, and try new things, and when he’s not behind the desk you can find him on his latest escapade.

Email: [email protected]

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United Nations General Assembly Declares that a Clean, Healthy and Sustainable Environment is a Universal Human Right

silhouette photo of three person near tall trees

4 August 2022 – by Darina Kalamova

On 28 July 2022, the United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution that gives a clean, healthy and sustainable environment  a universal recognition with air quality, safe and sufficient water, healthy soil, climate change, and biodiversity being some of the main concerns.

The resolution received overwhelming support in the Assembly, and out of the 193 United Nations Member States, 161 voted in favour and 8 abstained. The Secretary-General, António Guterres, who welcomed the adoption of the document as well, stated that it “demonstrates that member states can come together in our collective fight against the triple planetary crises of climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution”.

Despite not being legally binding, the resolution is still an important tool that could bring real change in the world.

Firstly, the universal right to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment is now integrated into the United Nations framework alongside other fundamental social, economic, civic and political rights. Secondly, it underlines the need to put human rights at the center of environmental policies, and it further empowers local communities and individuals to call for positive action.

The resolution also highlights the political commitment expressed by the member states to fight environmental degradation, climate change and poverty, which are deeply interlinked. Therefore, working towards realizing this universal right can bring much needed relief to those who are disproportionately affected by environmental threats, including indigenous persons, women, marginalized communities, people with disabilities.

Everyone everywhere deserves a right to a healthy environment and the adoption of this resolution is a right step in achieving this human right. It lays the needed foundation for all concerned sides to take action and scale up their efforts.

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Cosmo Sanderson

Cosmo Sanderson grew up in Brighton in the United Kingdom and went on to study at the University of Sussex, completing a BA in English Language and Linguistics and an MA in Multimedia Journalism.

After taking time out to live in Canada and pursue his love of skiing, Cosmo moved to London and joined the legal publication Global Arbitration Review. There, as an assistant news editor and senior writer, he reports on international legal disputes and other aspects of international law, including environmental issues.

As someone who is passionate about protecting the environment and highlighting the stories of those most affected by the climate crisis, Cosmo was delighted to be able to become part of the Earth Refuge team.

In his free time, Cosmo enjoys running, reading, and films. He is a long-suffering fan of Tottenham Hotspur FC.

Email: [email protected]

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Willy Phillips

Willy is a correspondent for Earth Refuge, contributing regularly to the Current Affairs section.

Willy Phillips graduated with a degree in Environmental Studies from Dartmouth College in 2020. Throughout his studies, Willy found a passion in the tension between humans and water resources. From flooding to drought, Willy sees water usage to be a critical course of study as climate change exacerbates resource access.

Currently, Willy runs a recreation area in New Hampshire, focusing on improving the sustainability of the grounds through a conscious reduction of resources.

Next year, Willy hopes to pursue a master’s degree in environmental science and hydrology in London. Willy hopes to gain practical skills which give him a path to inform perceptions of wastewater and ultimately reduce fresh water demands of municipalities.

Outside of work, Willy can be found swimming with his dog, Scooby, practicing saxophone, and learning how to hold a handstand.

Email: [email protected]

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Stephanie Heder

Stephanie Hader is the Director of Legal Education at Earth Refuge. Alongside Co-founder Yumna Kamel, she runs innovative legal and field research programmes with law faculty students across Asia and North America. These interactive sessions serve a dual purpose, in that they not only allow Earth Refuge to put forward original legal arguments, but also help students to think about the law as a tool for change.

Stephanie Hader is a Penn LLM Graduate with experience in drafting government reports for both the Australian and German Parliament. She also holds a Juris Doctor from the University of Hong Kong. Outside of Earth Refuge, she is a researcher for the Institute of the North where she critically explores different theories of natural resource management.

When she is not researching, Stephanie is a Sofar Sounds Ambassador and reads Jorge Louis Borges, as he continues to rewire her perception of the world.

Email: [email protected]