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Is the Ecological Crisis the Human Rights Concern of the Century?

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Is the Ecological Crisis the Human Rights Concern of the Century?
Introduction The ecological crisis has now become an important topic throughout the years. Even so, toward the end of the last century, the issues of such crises became a focal talking point of governments, international organisations and scholars. This most likely is, as Leigh (2005) discusses, an increasing acceptance that such ecological disasters affecting mankind has been one of “the most critical turning points” that the world has ever encountered.

Such crises are experienced when our environment is modified in ways which undermine our continued existence. As the environment and its ecosystems are in a constant state of being damaged, its quality is vastly ruined and this has major effects on the lives that are dependent on it. Magdoff and Foster (2011) suggest that for the ecological crisis to be understood, it must be looked at in the sense of the boundaries of the planet. They go on to indicate that ultimately the Earth has several thresholds which it must remain in in order to preserve the gentle conditions that the Earth has experienced in the past century. These thresholds include loss of biodiversity, climate change, a depleting ozone layer, world-wide freshwater and chemical pollution. Unfortunately, the planet has already passed two of these, including loss of biodiversity and climate change due to our damaging activities that cause environmental disparities.

Until recently, the ecological crisis and its subsequent effects have been discussed mainly in the scientific disciplines as merely an environmental issue. It has also been made into an economic concern. However, it is now more than ever in the 21st century being debated and referred to as a subject for human rights. This essay seeks to examine the issue of the impact of the ecological crisis, its human rights implications, and how it has come to be considered the human rights concern of the century.

The Ecological Crisis
The end of the 20th century and the beginning of the 21st



Bibliography: Burns, W. C., & Osofsky, H. M. (2009). Adjudicating Climate Change: State, national and international approaches. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. Dessler, A. E., & Parson, E. A. (2006). The Science and Politics of Global Climate Change: A Guide to the Debate. New York: Cambridge University Press. Goodhart, M. (2009). Human Rights: Politics and Practice. New York: Oxford University Press. Havermann, P. (2009). Ignoring the Mercury in the Climate Change Barometer: Denying Indigenous Peoples Rights. Australia Indigenous Law Review, 13(1). Hawkins, C. (2010). Sustainability, Human Rights and Environmental Justice: Critical Connections for Contemporary Social Work. Critical Social Work, 11(3). Hiskes, R. P. (2005). The Right to a Green Future: Human Rights, Environmentalism, and Intergenerational Justice. Human Rights Quarterly, 27(4), 1346-1364. HRC (Human RIghts Council). (2008). Human Rights and Climate Change: Resolution 7/23. Geneva: United Nations. Hunter, D. B. (2009). Human Rights Implications for Climate Change Negotiations. Oregon Review of International Law, 11(331). ICHRP. (2008). Climate Change and Human Rights: A Rough Guide. Switzerland: International Council on Human Rights Policy. Karliner, J. (1999). Corporate Power and Ecological Crisis. Global Dialogue, 1(1). Leigh, P. (2005). The Ecological Crisis, the Human Condition, Community-based Restoration as an Instrument for its Cure. Ethics in Science and Environmental Politics, 3(15). Magdoff, F., & Foster, J. (2011). What Every Environmentalist Needs to Know About Capitalism. New York: Monthly Review Press. OHCHR. (2008a, December). A Human Rights Approach to Tackling Climate Change. from Office of the High Commissioner for Human RIghts:http://www.ohchr.org/EN/NewsEvents/Pages/TrackingClimateChange.aspx [Accessed December 14, 2011] OHCHR. (2008b). Climate Change and Indigenous Peoples. from UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights: http://wwww.ohchr.org/EN/NewsEvents/Pages/ClimateChangeIP.aspx [Accessed December 5, 2011, Oxfam International The Great Warming. (2006, November 6). Climate Change Fact Sheet. from The Great Warming: http://www.thegreatwarming.com/pdf/climatechangefactsheet.pdf [Retrieved December 10, 2011] UNDP (United Nations Development Programme) UNFCCC. (1992). United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. Geneva: United Nations.

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