Watch the video for the event, “Is There a Rights Turn in Biodiversity Litigation? Lessons from Climate and Environmental Advocacy.”

As the protection of biodiversity gains increasing prominence in public opinion and global governance, a growing number of litigants are using human rights norms to hold governments and corporations accountable for the destruction of ecosystems. Based on an ongoing study, the panelists discussed whether this amounts to a “rights turn” in biodiversity litigation, similar to the one that has taken place in the field of climate change litigation. They analyzed the contours and potential impacts of this trend as well as its synergies with ongoing negotiations for a new post-2020 framework for the Convention on Biological Diversity.

Panelists:

• David Boyd, UN Rapporteur on the Environment and Human Rights
• César Rodríguez-Garavito, CLX/CHRGJ, NYU Law

Moderator:

• Arpitha Kodiveri, CLX/CHRG Affiliate, NYU Law