Distributive justice and human rights in climate policy: the long road to Paris

The Paris Agreement, adopted by 196 countries, is the first global climate change instrument to explicitly reference human rights as a guiding principle. The treaty does not expound on the implications of climate change for human rights but the fact that it calls on State Parties to respect human rights when combating climate change shows a significant improvement in international thinking and acceptance of the linkages between human rights and climate change. Indeed, this is no mean feat. The journey to Paris has been a long and arduous process, especially for the broad coalition of indigenous people, gender, human rights, environmental and climate justice groups that worked tirelessly to bring the issue to global focus. My goal in this article is to explore the implications of a human rights clause in the Paris Agreement. Does it carry any legal or political weight? Are State Parties likely to operationalize it? In what ways can they enforce this part of the Agreement? To answer these questions, this article traces the historical account of the connections between human rights and climate change within the United Nations system and examines issues of equity and distributive justice in international climate change frameworks such as the UNFCCC, Kyoto Protocol, and the Paris Agreement. The article expounds on opportunities for integrating human rights-based approaches into national and international climate policy and concludes on the need for further integration of both issues in future research and treaty negotiations.Keywords: Climate change, human rights, justice, policy, Paris Agreemen

Functional Ethnicity, Regionalism and Regional Integration of South West Nigeria: A Study of ODUaA Investment Company Limited (OICL)

With the abolition of regionalism in 1967 ethnicity became more intensified in Nigeria as the country became more polarized While regionalism promoted nation building in spite of its abuse as a result of ethnicity which culminated in the civil war 1967-1970 the latter is mostly an agent of disintegration However ethnicity does not necessarily constitute threat to the socio-political and economic development of a state rather it is its negative employment Hence the positive aspects of ethnicity often become insignificant in multi-ethnic states like Nigeria This paper suggests that ethnicity and regionalism can provide solution to some of the socio-economic problems confronting the country It thus demonstrates through the study of Odu a Investment Company Limited OICL a regional economic bloc in south west Nigeria that regional integration has the potentials of revamping the economy of the country It also argues that regional cohesion is a tool for national integration While the paper argues that Odu a Investment Company Limited OICL as an economic bloc has failed to achieve its raison d tre courtesy of regional atomization it contends that since the beginning of the Fourth Republic it has been a unifying factor in south western Nigeri

Chapter 1 Introduction

"This edited volume advances our understanding of climate relocation (or planned retreat), an emerging topic in the fields of climate adaptation and hazard risk, and provides a platform for alternative voices and views on the subject. As the effects of climate change become more severe and widespread, there is a growing conversation about when, where and how people will move. Climate relocation is a controversial adaptation strategy, yet the process can also offer opportunity and hope. This collection grapples with the environmental and social justice dimensions from multiple perspectives, with cases drawn from Africa, Asia, Australia, Oceania, South America, and North America. The contributions throughout present unique perspectives, including community organizations, adaptation practitioners, geographers, lawyers, and landscape architects, reflecting on the potential harms and opportunities of climate-induced relocation. Works of art, photos, and quotes from flood survivors are also included, placed between sections to remind the reader of the human element in the adaptation debate. Blending art – photography, poetry, sculpture – with practical reflections and scholarly analyses, this volume provides new insights on a debate that touches us all: how we will live in the future and where? Challenging readers’ pre-conceptions about planned retreat by juxtaposing different disciplines, lenses and media, this book will be of great interest to students and scholars of climate change, environmental migration and displacement, and environmental justice and equity.

Urban sustainability Implementation and Indicators in the United States: A systematic review

Urban sustainability is the goal of many cities in the world, yet very few have achieved a level of sustainability that goes beyond the most basic environmental objectives. The practice and assessment of sustainability implementation are greatly compounded by lack of funding, technical know-how, political will, and the power disparity between dominant institutions and marginalized communities. This systematic analysis of urban sustainability literature involved the review of 241 studies published between 2010 and 2022. We critically examined current debates and challenges in urban sustainability, identifying gaps and opportunities and providing recommendations for creating equitable, just, and sustainable urban futures. We also reviewed 23 studies to summarize the social, ecological, and technological systems (SETS) indicators used to measure urban sustainability in the same period, many of which may not be relevant to the lived experiences of marginalized communities. To move toward more meaningful and equitable pathways, it is important to develop SETS indicators of urban sustainability that are reflective of the experiences and priorities of diverse groups in society. This review identifies four major issues in the current urban sustainability literature: space, scale, stakeholders, and dimension. These issues need to be centered in sustainability planning in order to develop solutions that are appropriate for the local context

Introduction: Climate Change and Planned Retreat

Chapter 1. This edited volume advances our understanding of climate relocation (or planned retreat), an emerging topic in the fields of climate adaptation and hazard risk, and provides a platform for alternative voices and views on the subject. As the effects of climate change become more severe and widespread, there is a growing conversation about when, where and how people will move. Climate relocation is a controversial adaptation strategy, yet the process can also offer opportunity and hope. This collection grapples with the environmental and social justice dimensions from multiple perspectives, with cases drawn from Africa, Asia, Australia, Oceania, South America, and North America. The contributions throughout present unique perspectives, including community organizations, adaptation practitioners, geographers, lawyers, and landscape architects, reflecting on the potential harms and opportunities of climate-induced relocation. Works of art, photos, and quotes from flood survivors are also included, placed between sections to remind the reader of the human element in the adaptation debate. Blending art – photography, poetry, sculpture – with practical reflections and scholarly analyses, this volume provides new insights on a debate that touches us all: how we will live in the future and where? Challenging readers’ pre-conceptions about planned retreat by juxtaposing different disciplines, lenses and media, this book will be of great interest to students and scholars of climate change, environmental migration and displacement, and environmental justice and equity

Climate change and the sustainable development goal on food security: barriers and opportunities for progressive realization in Qatar and Nigeria

The United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 2 (SDG 2) contains a global commitment to “end hunger, achieve food security, and promote sustainable agriculture” by 2030. The realization of this goal under the current global political economy, climate change trends, and national realities is a daunting challenge. In this article, we draw on political ecology theory to examine the complex ecological, economic, geopolitical, climatic, and socially-induced barriers that threaten the achievement of SDG 2 in two oil producing countries with a high dependency on food imports: Qatar and Nigeria. First, we provide an overview of barriers to global food security and sustainable agriculture by discussing how the unevenness of power and resource distribution, reduced genetic diversity, land grabs, restrictive property rights, and the control of stable food production by big agri-businesses, all served to undermine hunger reduction and food security in the last 20 years. Second, drawing on  newspaper analysis and an extensive literature review, we answer the questions: what are the current and future barriers to food security in Qatar and Nigeria? What efforts are these countries taking to address these barriers? What can both countries learn from one another? We also identify opportunities for new governance architecture on local food production. Finally, we suggest ways in which crucial reforms at local, national, regional and global scales might allow these countries to progressively realize SDG 2 by 2030 even under a climate change scenario.Keywords: Food Security; Import Dependency; Land Grab; Political Ecology; Property Rights; Sustainable Development Goals; Nigeria; Qata

Climate Change and Coastal Megacities: Adapting through mobility

Climate change poses threats to individuals, communities, and cities globally. Global conversations and scholarly debates have explored ways people adapt to the impacts of climate change including through migration and relocation. This study uses Lagos, Nigeria as a case study to examine the relationship between flooding events, migration intentions as a preferred adaptation, and the destination choices for affected residents. The study draws on a mixed-methods approach which involved a survey of 352 residents and semi-structured interviews with 21 residents. We use a capability approach to analyze mobility decisions following major or repetitive flood events. We found that the majority of affected residents are willing to migrate but the ability to do so is constrained by economic, social, and political factors leading to involuntary immobility. Furthermore, intra-city relocation is preferred to migration to other states in Nigeria or internationally. These findings challenge popular Global South-North migration narratives. Indeed, some residents welcome government-supported relocation plans but others remain skeptical due to lack of trust. Community-based relocation may therefore be preferred by some Lagosians. Overall, this study contributes a nuanced understanding of mobility intentions in response to climate-induced flooding in one of the world’s largest coastal cities

The Spatial Patterns of Pluvial Flood Risk, Blue-Green Infrastructure, and Social Vulnerability: A Case Study from Two Alaskan Cities

Flooding is a serious form of natural hazard in Alaska, USA. Two of Alaska’s biggest cities, Anchorage and Fairbanks, have experienced flooding of varying magnitude since the cities were first settled in the early 20th century. Although flood mitigation measures such as blue-green infrastructure (BGI) are rising in prominence, the spatial relationship of BGI, urban pluvial flood (UPF) zone, and social vulnerability remains understudied. This study delineates the UPF zone of Anchorage and Fairbanks using the Blue Spot modeling and correlates it with the distribution of BGI at Census Block Group (CBG) scale, focusing on underlying social vulnerability using a set of indicators. Anchorage shows a positive correlation (r = 0.53, p \u3c 0.01) between percentage of UPF area and density of BGF, whereas Fairbanks shows an insignificant negative correlation. In Anchorage, more socially vulnerable CBGs (n = 10) intersect with high blue spot CBGs (n = 33), compared to Fairbanks where those numbers are 1:6. The results indicate that while BGI is equitably and proportionally distributed within the Anchorage UPF zone, the same is not true in Fairbanks, where distribution is equitable, but not proportionate to pluvial flood risk. The study emphasizes that both types of distribution present their unique challenges and opportunities, but the relative absence of BGI increases flood risk for residents. The results are useful for spatial planners to better inform flood mitigation strategies in urban areas, especially to reduce the gap between equitable and proportional distribution of BGI

Flood Risk Perceptions and Future Migration Intentions of Lagos Residents

Coastal communities across the world face intense and frequent flooding due to the rise in extreme rainfall and storm surges associated with climate change. Adaptation is therefore crucial to manage the growing threat to coastal communities and cities. This case study focuses on Lagos, Nigeria, one of the world’s largest urban centers where rapid urbanization, poor urban planning, degrading infrastructure, and inadequate preparedness compounds flood vulnerability. We situate flood risk perceptions within the context of climate-induced mobilities in Lagos, which no study has done, filling a necessary knowledge gap. Furthermore, we apply a unique approach to flood risk perception and its linkage to migration, by using three measures of risk – affect, probability, and consequence, as opposed to a singular measure. Results show that the affect measure of flood risk perception is significantly higher than probability and consequence measures. Furthermore, flood risk perception is shaped by prior experiences with flooding and proximity to hazard. The effect of proximity on risk perception differs across the three measures. We also found that flood risk perceptions and future migration intentions are positively correlated. These results demonstrate the usefulness of using multiple measures to assess flood risk perceptions, offering multiple pathways for targeted interventions and flood risk communication

Are Managed Retreat Programs Successful and Just? A Global Mapping of Success Typologies, Justice Dimensions, and Trade-offs

As managed retreat programs expand across the globe, there is an urgent need to assess whether these programs are reducing exposure to climatic hazards, enhancing adaptive capacity, and improving the living conditions of communities in a just and equitable manner or are they exacerbating existing risks and vulnerabilities? Strictly speaking, are retreat programs successful? Using an expansive intersectional justice approach to examine 138 post-resettlement case studies published between 2000 and 2021 across the Global North and South, we identified five typologies of success – techno-managerial, eco-restorative, compensatory, reformative, and transformative – and their trade-offs and synergies. Our meta-analysis incorporated a variety of metrics: relocation types, funding, decision making, socio-economic class, land use change, livelihood options, and social impacts. We found 26% of cases failed, 43% were successful, and 30% are on-going and therefore success was undetermined. The techno-managerial cases, while successful in the limited terms of relocating residents, paid little attention to equity and justice. The eco-restorative and compensatory cases reduced hazard exposure but revealed the synergies and tensions associated with social, ecological, and intergenerational justice. The reformative and transformative cases improved community wellbeing, rootedness, and access to livelihoods while incorporating diverse justice concerns to different degrees. By intersecting these typologies with multiple dimensions of justice, this study advances a novel planning and analytical tool for assessing the potential success or failure of current and future retreat programs