Young Australians Lodge Human Rights Complaints With UN Over Alleged Government Inaction on Climate
upstart writes:
Young Australians lodge human rights complaints with UN over alleged government inaction on climate:
Five young Australians, including members of First Nations and disability communities, have lodged three human rights complaints with the United Nations over what they claim is the Morrison government's inaction on climate.
The complainants - aged between 14 and 24 years old - argue that the Australian government's 2030 emissions reduction target fails to uphold the rights of every young person in Australia.
They claim the target is putting young First Nations people and people with disabilities at risk of acute harm from climate change.
They filed the complaint just days before the Cop26 climate conference in Glasgow, where key allies, like the US and UK, will expect to see improvements to Australia's emissions reduction targets.
[...] Australia currently has a 2030 target to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 26-28% of 2005 levels. The target has been widely criticised as inconsistent with scientific advice and inadequate to slow global warming.
The group, represented by lawyers from Environmental Justice Australia, have filed complaints with the UN special rapporteurs for human rights and the environment, the rights of Indigenous people, and the rights of persons with disabilities.Senior climate specialist lawyer at Environmental Justice Australia, Hollie Kerwin, says this is significant because special rapporteurs have the power to investigate a breach of human rights, and report these breaches to the Australian representative to the United Nations, and the UN Human Rights Council.
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