Friend or foe?

International environmental law and its structural complicity in the Anthropocene’s climate injustices

Authors

  • Louis J. Kotzé North West University
  • Louise Du Toit Stellenbosch University
  • Duncan French Lincoln University

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.35295/osls.iisl/0000-0000-0000-1140

Keywords:

International environmental law, Anthropocene, climate change, climate injustice

Abstract

In this paper, we focus on the structural complicity of international environmental law (IEL) in causing and exacerbating climate injustices. We aim to show that although the intentions behind IEL may be well-meaning, it often inadvertently, but also deliberately at times, plays a role in creating, sustaining and exacerbating the many paradigms that drive climate injustice in the Anthropocene. We focus on three aspects: IEL’s neoliberal anthropocentrism; its entanglement with (neo)colonialism; and its entrenchment of the sovereign right to exploit energy resources. We conclude with a call for thoroughgoing, and urgent, reform of IEL.

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Published

01-02-2021

How to Cite

Kotzé, L. J., Du Toit, L. and French, D. (2021) “Friend or foe? International environmental law and its structural complicity in the Anthropocene’s climate injustices”, Oñati Socio-Legal Series, 11(1), pp. 180–206. doi: 10.35295/osls.iisl/0000-0000-0000-1140.