Impact Story
Bridging science, economics and human rights knowledge in the African Court on Human and Peoples' Rights
In collaboration with Lawtons Africa, the Kenya Meteorological Society, the African Synthesis Centre for Climate, Environment and Development, leading climate scientists, Dr Joyce Kimutai, Dr Portia Adade and Dr Chris Trisos, as well as leading economist, Prof. Fadhel Kaboub, and Dr Adv. Caiphas Brews Soyapi, the Socio-Ecological Justice Lab co-led, with Dr Kimutai, the development and submission of a friend of the court brief to the African Court on Human and Peoples' Rights. The African Court is considering a request for an advsiory opinion on the obligations of African States with respect to the climate change crisis.
The submission sought to assist the court by presenting integrated scientific and economic evidence and the legal principles that flow from that evidence in a form that is legally defensible, African-centred, and grounded int he best available international jurisprudence. Among other things, the submission asks the Court to view the African Charter as grounded in the African philosophy of Ubuntu, which recognises that communal relationships encompass the ecological systems through which communities sustain themselves, their agriculture, water, culture and their obligations to future generations.
By presenting synthesized climate science, economic and human rights knowledge to the African Court the submission aims to inform the development of the advisory opinion by advancing intersectional climate justice.