The climate crisis and the right to health
Thesis: The Climate Crisis and the Right to Health: Mobilising International Human Rights Law for Urgent Climate Action [please note the full title]
The effects of climate change on global health are well-recognised and increasingly dire. This thesis addresses the question ‘How can international human rights law be better mobilised to protect and promote human health in the climate crisis?’ The study combines legal analysis with examples of real-world collaboration with public health organisations. A review of academic literature reveals that health and legal experts often use phrases like "the right to health" differently, causing confusion. The author calls for closer teamwork between these fields.Public protest and online participation are vital. To tackle climate change effectively, governments must protect "civic space" so citizens and health professionals can safely voice their concerns and influence policy. While wealthy nations are slow to provide promised climate funding, developing nations are missing opportunities to demand this support. They are also failing to report on how they consult children during official United Nations treaty reviews.Climate advocates can learn from the global response to HIV. While focusing solely on environmental science can cause public denial, the HIV response succeeded by using human rights law, social mobilization, and legal action to hold governments and corporations accountable. The thesis concludes that international human rights law is a powerful but under-utilized tool for climate action. By utilizing recent legal milestones—such as the 2025 International Court of Justice advisory opinion—the global community can better address the threat of climate change to human health.