November 29, 2023
Dubai, UAE—As we convene at the UN Climate Change Conference COP28 in Dubai, the Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) reaffirms its dedication to fostering a world where the interdependence of humans and the environment, and the dignity, equality, and human rights of all are recognized and respected. As an organization working at the intersection of human rights and the environment, we highlight the fundamental connection between human rights, peace, and climate justice in the context of the ongoing conflict in Palestine and Israel.
CIEL’s mission to protect human rights and the environment is rooted in the understanding that the path to peace and respect for human life is not achieved through military action.
CIEL affirms its solidarity with all people impacted by violence in Palestine and Israel. We unequivocally condemn all forms of violence, whether it be the attacks by Hamas on Israeli civilians, the Israeli military’s assaults against civilians in Gaza, or the violence and attacks against the civilian population in the West Bank. Actions such as targeting of civilians, indiscriminate and disproportionate attacks against life-sustaining infrastructure, including medical facilities, denial of access to basic goods, hostage-taking, forced displacement, the use of civilians as human shields, and arbitrary detention are breaches of international humanitarian and human rights law and counter to our core values of human dignity and respect for all life.
At this critical moment, our call for peace, safety, the rule of law, and human rights for all is more pressing than ever. The tragedy unfolding in Gaza is a powerful reminder of our shared responsibility. As we reflect on the historical and current realities, we recognize the importance of addressing ongoing injustices without repeating the traumas of the past. We believe that stopping the cycle of violence and retaliation is vital to the prospect of justice and essential for the preservation of life. Respect for international law is essential to ensure that the rights of each individual prevail over the interests of the mightiest.
The prolonged occupation of Palestine, the over-a-decade-long blockade of Gaza, and the use of collective punishment and indiscriminate violence are clear violations of international law and barriers to peace in the region. UN human rights experts have pointed to evidence of a “genocide in the making” in Gaza and stressed the obligation of the international community to take swift action to prevent further grave violations of human rights and international crimes.
We join the call for a lasting ceasefire, the provision of humanitarian aid for the people of Gaza, the release of all hostages, compliance with international humanitarian and human rights law, and an end to the illegal occupation of Palestinian land and illegal blockade of Gaza. We urge the international community to take action to uphold the rule of law and human rights and end the crime against humanity of apartheid.
At a time when Western governments refuse to pay their fair share for their contribution to climate loss and damage, they are instead pouring public money into destruction, death, and further escalation of this conflict through unrestricted aid and weapons. As an organization based in the Global North, CIEL feels a profound obligation to raise our voice, especially in challenging situations, not just when it is convenient but especially when it is not. The escalating repression of civil society activists and retaliation against organizations across the globe speaking out on this issue further underscores the need for our intervention. In times of conflict and gross violations of humanitarian and human rights law, the role of human rights organizations is more important than ever. Deploying state power to intimidate and silence the public rather than protect it violates fundamental principles of domestic and international law.
We reject the rise of extremism and polarization championed by too many leaders and echoed by mainstream media that dehumanizes and escalates violence. We reject the use of rhetoric that foments hatred, antisemitism, islamophobia, and xenophobia. Justice–including environmental justice–is not possible without the collective defense of the inherent value and dignity of all people, and an end to racism, occupation, and colonialism everywhere it manifests and in all its diverse forms.
There can be no climate justice without human rights.
Taking our lead from the communities most affected, marginalized, and targeted, we will work to confront and end violence and oppression, and transform the systems that enable it, as an essential step toward building a just and sustainable world. CIEL reiterates its commitment to using the power of law to forge a sustainable, just, equitable, and peaceful world for present and future generations.
We ask the international community to join us, recognizing that our collective future depends on our courage to speak out and act today.
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Media Contact
Niccolò Sarno, press@ciel.org.