News

On January 9, 2023, the Governments of Chile and Colombia submitted a joint request for an advisory opinion before the Inter-American Court of Human Rights on “The Climate Emergency and Human Rights”. The Court set 18 October 2023 as the deadline for submitting written observations. IGSD, the Center for Justice and International Law, and the Center for Human Rights and Environment are preparing amici, as well as helping other institutions and individuals with their amici submissions.

El 9 de enero de 2023, los Gobiernos de Chile y Colombia presentaron una solicitud conjunta de opinión consultiva ante la Corte Interamericana de Derechos Humanos sobre “La Emergencia Climática y los Derechos Humanos”. La Corte acogió la solicitud en marzo de 2023 y fijó el 18 de octubre 2023 como fecha límite para la presentación de las observaciones escritas de los interesados. Para apoyar el proceso, IGSD ha preparado varios documentos complementarios que brindan antecedentes sobre consideraciones científicas y legales en el nexo entre el cambio climático y los derechos humanos.

At the launch of Virgin Unite Foundation’s new ‘planetary guardians’ initiative, the guardians took a moment to acknowledge and celebrate the Montreal Protocol as the shining example of how it is possible to come together to protect our planet.

October 2, 1951 – July 13, 2023 Douglas Varchol, an American filmmaker whose documentary works educated and urged action by government and civil society leaders to support social and environmental justice, died 13 July 2023 in Los Angeles.

On 31 October 2022, at the 34th Meeting of the Parties to the Montreal Protocol in Montreal, the United Nations Environment Program Ozone Secretariat and the Institute for Governance & Sustainable Development (IGSD) launched the celebratory Montreal Protocol 35th Anniversary Book Protecting the Ozone Layer. The electronic version (Kindle Edition) of the book has now become available for purchase on Amazon.

In celebration of International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer, the United Nations Environment Program Ozone Secretariat announced the release of a new book celebrating the 35th Anniversary of the Montreal Protocol. The book highlights the Montreal Protocol’s successes and innovation during its first 35 years and inspires new ambition to strengthen the protection of stratospheric ozone as well as the climate before Earth passes dangerous tipping points that could cause irreversible and abrupt climate change.

8 June 2022 – In his latest book, career lawyer, diplomat, and negotiator Donald Kaniaru released a collection of published and unpublished papers from his career spanning works from the 1970s to the 2020s. The book, Environmental Law and Diplomacy, offers unique insights into the world’s collective struggle to slow environmental destruction while also pursuing equitable and sustainable development for all.

IGSD President Durwood Zaelke and IGSD media strategist Paul Bledsoe were recognized among Washington DC’s 500 most influential people shaping policy. Durwood and Paul were recognized for their efforts in climate and environment alongside 14 others.