The Climate for Human Rights

Abstract

Climate change is the defining challenge of the 21st century. The United States government is currently ignoring the problem, but wishful thinking alone will not keep global mean temperature rise below 2º C. This Article proposes a way forward. It advises environmental decision-makers to use human rights norms to guide them as they make decisions under United States law. By reframing their discretion through a human rights lens, decision-makers can use their existing authority to respond to the super-wicked problem of climate change.

Keywords: climate change, human rights, global warming, superwicked, carbon emissions, Mossville, United States, regulation, sustainability, norms, environment, environmental protection, energy

JEL Classification: K32, K33, K00, Q38, Q48, Q01, Q28, Q54