https://en.gariwo.net/texts-and-contexts/environment-and-climate-change/

Environment and Climate Change

Global Warming is defined as the increase in the planet's temperature compared to the pre-industrial era and it is caused by increasing amounts of carbon dioxide (CO2) and other greenhouse gases trapped in the atmosphere that absorb heat from solar radiation.

Human activities, such as the use of fossil fuels, deforestation or the raising of livestock are the main sources of greenhouse gas emissions.

The problem is considered among the greatest challenges of our time, since it brings with it not only environmental risks, but also repercussions on human rights, such as new conflicts and mass migration.

We have collected materials and research, thanks to experts such as Filippo Giorgi or Emanuele Bompan, and the work of activists and artists such as Anne De Carbuccia, to understand this link between environment and rights.

Ecocide could become the fifth international crime after the Genocide since the Nuremberg trial

after war crimes, crimes against humanity, genocide and crime of aggression

Ecocide occurs in cases such as deforestation of the Amazon, the poaching of a protected species, or a large oil spill from a tanker. Ecocide might become the fifth international crime along with war crimes, crimes against humanity, genocide, and the crime of aggression. Ecocide could also become the first new international crime to be recognized after the Nuremberg trial.

Climatic Change: Are We on the Brink of a Pronounced Global Warming?

by Wallace Broecker

The fact that the mean global temperature has been falling over the past several decades has led observers to discount the warming effect of the CO2 produced by the burning of chemical fuels. In this report I present an argument to show that this complacency may not be warranted. It is possible that we are on the brink of a several-decades-long period of rapid warming.

"It is my duty to tell what I know"

by Valerij Legasov

It was April 26, 1986, a Saturday, a beautiful day… Remembering now the journey to the disaster site, I must say that it didn’t even occur to me, at the time, that we were moving towards an event on a planetary scale, that will probably enter the human history forever…

A Lesson from the Righteous for Those Fighting Climate Change

by Craig Palmer

Many politicians and public figures calling on others to go to war against climate change have failed to make even small reductions in the comfort of their own lifestyles. Far from morally elevating figures, such individuals become analogous to politicians conscripting others to fight a war while they themselves refuse to even observe the rationing of food they impose on others.

Will this be the century of water conflicts?

Interview with Emanuele Bompan

We wanted to focus on the concept of conflict because we believe that environmental instability can lead to strong political and security instability. We are increasingly moving towards a world that will be environmentally and climatically different from the one human beings have had over the last 11,000 years, and the way in which climate change is mainly visible is through water.

Righteous change

remarks by Anne de Carbuccia

"There are so many things we can do every day that can make a difference for the planet. We are defining the future of the polar bear just by what we choose to put on our plates daily". By Anne de Carbuccia, environmental artist.

The tree is a symbol of peace and democracy

Wangari Maathai speech for the Nobel Price 2004

"The tree became a symbol for peace and conflict resolution, especially during ethnic conflicts in Kenya when the Green Belt Movement used peace trees to reconcile disputing communities". Wangari Maathai speech for the Nobel Price 2004.

Understanding climate change

Interview with Filippo Giorgi

What is climate change? And which strategies could we adopt to counter it? We asked it to Filippo Giorgi, the person in charge of the branch of Physics of the Earth of the International Centre for Theoretical Physics (ICTP) of Trieste, who also contributed to the proceedings of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), and author of a book, L’uomo e la farfalla; Sei domande su cui riflettere per comprendere i cambiamenti climatici, presenting scenarios and solutions.

About Global Warming

some personal points by Anne de Carbuccia

Anne de Carbuccia is a French-American environmental artist. She has traveled the globe for several years documenting the evolution of the planet and the impact of mankind on the environment. For the 75th Venice Film Festival, she presented the documentary One Ocean, which sees her as the protagonist, on the need to protect the ocean. Here are some of her reflections on Global Warming and its link with human rights.

Toward a right to a "healty environment"?

While some measures are introduced, activists keep on dying

24 countries of Latin America and the Caribbeans have signed a binding agreement containing measures to protect the environmental defenders.A measure that should be taken by the United Nations, as well. In the meanwhile, activists continue to die while trying to protect the Earth.