Climate Change and Socio-Economic Rights Duties in Nigeria
Izvleček
Key global climate change instruments, in particular, the Unit-ed Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, Kyoto Protocol and the recently adopted Paris Agreement emphasise the importance of climate change mitigation actions in develop-ing states. Generally, resolutions linking climate change to human rights, for instance, from the United Nations Human Rights Coun-cil and the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights also call upon states to ensure human rights in climate actions. While the implementation of mitigation actions has the potential to enhance the realisation of socio-economic rights in developing states, climate instruments which govern their implementation have not been articulated in terms of duties of states to ensure that end. This article clarifies states’ duties under international cli-mate change related instruments to ensure socio-economic rights in mitigation actions. It then contends legitimate expectation and the existence of complementary legislation and policies as legal bases for their application in Nigeria.
References
Akinola Akintayo, A Good Thing from Nazareth? Stemming the Tide of Neo-Liberalism against Socio Economic Rights: Lessons from the Nigerian case of Bamidele Aturu v Minister of Petroleum Resources and Others, Economic Social Rights Review, 15(2) (2014), p.5)
Alemahu Yeshanew, Approaches to the Justiciability of Economic, Social and Cultural Rights in the
Jurisprudence of the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights: Progress and Perspectives, African Human Rights Law Journal, 11 (2) (2011), p. 317)
Amos Enabulele, Implementation of Treaties in Nigeria and the Status Question: Whither Nigerian
Courts, African Journal of International and Comparative Law, 17 (2) (2009), p. 326)
Amos Enabulele and Bright Bazuaye, Teachings on Basic Topics in Public International Law,Ambik Press, 2014)
Andrew Kilbera, We the People: The Original Meaning of Popular Sovereignty, Virginia Law Review, 100 (2014), p.1061)
Asbjørn Eide, Realisation of Social and Economic Rights and the Minimum Threshold Approach, Human Rights Law Journal, 10 (2) (1989), p. 37)
AU, Member States of the AU,http://www.au.int/en/AU_Member_States accessed 13 July 2017.
Babajide Balogun and Ayobami Salami, Effects of Biofuel Production on Selected Local Communities in Nigeria, Journal of Petroleum Technology and Alternative Fuels, 7 (3) (2016), p. 8)
Ben Machol and Sarah Rizk, Economic Value of U.S. Fossil Fuel Electricity Health Impacts, Environment International, 52 (2013), p.75)
CarbonBrief, IPCC says adapt and mitigate to tackle climate risks, http://www.carbonbrief.org/ipcc-says-adapt-and-mitigate-to-tackle-climate-risks 30 July 2017
Carwz Vázquezon,The Four Doctrines of Self-Executing Treaties, American Journal of International Law, 89 (1995), p.714)
Charleen Watson and others, Integrating RE DD+ into a Green Economy Transition: Opportunities and Challenges,ODI, 2013)
Charlotte Streck and Sebastian Scholz, The Role of Forests in Global Climate Change: Whence We Come and Where We Go, International Affairs, 82 (5) (2006), p. 861).
Chelushi Onyemelukwe, Access to Anti-Retroviral Drugs as a Component of the Right to Health in International Law: Examining the Application of the Right in Nigerian Jurisprudence, African Human Rights Law Journal, 7 (2007), p. 470)
Cherif Bassiouni, International Crimes: Jus Cogens and Obligation Erga Omnes, Law and Contemporary Problems, 59(4) (1996), p. 63)
Chilenye Nwapi, International Treaties in Nigerian and Canadian Courts, African Journal of International and Comparative Law,19 (1) (2011), p. 38)
Chris Wold, David Hunter and Melissa Powers, Climate Change and the Law, LexisNexis, 2009)
Christof Heyns and Danie Brand, Introduction to Socio-economic Rights in the South African Constitution, Law Democracy and Development, 9 (1998), p.153)
Damir Črnčec and Izvirni Članek, Slovenia in Geopolitical and Geostrategic Environment of the 21st Century, The Bulletin of the Slovenian Armed Forces, 12(2) (2010), p. 27)
David Sloss, Non-self-Executing Treaties: Exposing a Constitutional Fallacy, University of California Davis Law Review, 30(1) (2002), p.1)
Department of Climate Change Federal Ministry of Environment, ‘Mitigation’
Ebenezer Durojaiye to: Magnus Killander (editor): International Law and Domestic Human Rights Litigation in Africa, Pretoria University Law Press, Pretoria, 2010, p.149
Edwin Egede, Bringing Human Rights Home: An Examination of Domestication of Human Rights Treaties in Nigeria, Journal of African Law,51(2) (2007), p.249)
Eva Filzmoser and others,The Need for a Rights-based Approach to the Clean Development Mechanism, Centre for International Sustainable Development Law Working Paper Series, 2015)
Federal Ministry of Environment,RE DD+ Readiness Preparation Proposal (R-PP), Federal Ministry of Environment Nigeria, 2013)
Federal Republic of Nigeria, Nigeria’s Second National Communication under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, Federal Ministry of Environment, 2014)
Federal Republic of Nigeria, National Environmental, Economic and Development Study (NEE DS) for Climate Change in Nigeria, Federal Ministry of Environment, 2010)
Federal Republic of Nigeria, Nigeria’s First National Communication under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, Federal Ministry of Environment, 2003).
Federal Republic of Nigeria, Nigeria’s Intended Nationally Determined Contribution, Federal Ministry of Environment, 2015)
Frans Viljoen, International Human Rights Law in Africa, Oxford University Press, Oxford, 2012).
Friends of the Earth, Exploitation and Empty Promises: Wilmar Nigerian Land Grab, Friends of the Earth, 2015)
Glen Cranwell, Treaties and Australian law - Administrative Discretions, Statutes and the Common Law, Queensland University of Technology Law and Justice Journal, 1 (2001), p. 49)
Greenpeace, Dealing in Doubt: The Climate Denial Machine v Climate Science, Greenpeace, 2013)
Hennie Strydom to: Hennie Strydom (editor): International Law, Oxford University Press, Oxford, 2016, p.63
Henry Shue, Basic Rights: Subsistence, Affluence, and U.S. Foreign Policy, Princeton University Press, 1980)
Jan Willem den Besten, Bas Arts and Patrick Verkooijen, The Evolution of RE DD+: An Analysis of Discursive Institutional Dynamics, Environmental Science & Policy, 35 (2014), p. 40)
Jeanette Schade and Wolfgang Obergassel, Human Rights and the Clean Development Mechanism, Cambridge Review of International Affairs, 27 (4) (2014), p.717)
Jernej Cernic, Corporate Obligations under the Right to a Healthy Living Environment, DANUBE - Law and Economics Review, 3 (2012), p. 21)
John Knox, Linking Human Rights and Climate Change at the United Nations, Harvard Environmental Law Review, 33 (2009), p. 477)
Jouni Paavola and Neil Adger, Fair Adaptation to Climate Change, Ecological Economics, 26 (2006), p. 594)
Lester Salamon, The New Governance and the Tools of Public Action: An Introduction, Fordham Urban Law Journal, 28(5) (2000), p. 1611)
Marc Limon, Human Rights and Climate Change: Constructing a Case for Political Action, Harvard Environmental Law Review, 33 (2009), p. 439)
Marcos Orellana, Miloon Kothari and Shivani Chaudhry, Climate Change in the Work of the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, Friedrich Ebert Stiftung, 2010)
Marius Pieterse, Legislative and Executive Translation of the Right to have Access to Health Care Services, Law, Democracy and Development, 14 (2010), p.1)
Marko Öberg, The Legal Effects of Resolutions of the UN Security Council and General Assembly in the Jurisprudence of the ICJ, The European Journal of International Law, 16(5) (2006), p. 879)
Nico Steytler, The Legal Instruments to raise Property Rates: Policy, By-laws and Resolutions, Southern African Public Law, 26(2) (2011), p. 484)
Oliver Fuo, Constitutional Basis for the Enforcement of ''executive ''Policies that give effect to Socio-Economic Rights in South Africa, Potchefstroom Electronic Law Journal, 16(4) (2013), p.1
Patrick Sekoia and Kelvin Yoro, ‘Biofuel Development Initiatives in Sub-Saharan Africa: Opportunities and Challenges, Climate, 4 (2) (2016), p.33)
Paul Craig, Substantive Legitimate Expectations in Domestic and Community Law, Cambridge Law Journal, 55 (2) (1996), p. 289)
Rajendra Pachauri and Andy Reisinger (editors): IPCC, 2007: Climate Change 2007: Synthesis Report. Contribution of Working Groups I, II and III to the Fourth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, IPCC, 2007)
Segun Oshewolo, Designed to fail? Nigeria’ Quest for Biofuel, Afro Asian Journal of Social Sciences, 3(3) (2012), p.1)
Simon Caney, Cosmopolitan Justice, Responsibility and Global Climate Change, Leiden Journal of International Law, 18 (2005), p.747)
Stanley Ibe, Implementing Economic, Social and Cultural Rights in Nigeria: Opportunities and Challenges, African Human Rights Law Journal, 10 (2010), p. 197)
‘Status of Ratification of the Convention’ http://unfccc.int/essential_background/convention/status_of_ratification/items/2631.php accessed 19 July 2017
The RE DD Desk, What is RE DD+, http://theredddesk.org/what-redd 30 June 2017
‘The African Group Negotiators on Climate Change (AGN) meets to discuss the African Position for COP17 / CMP7’ https://www.environment.gov.za/mediarelease/africangroup_negotiators_cop17cmp7 accessed 19 July 2017
Thomas Bruckner and others to: Ottman Edenhofer and others (editors), Climate Change 2014: Mitigation of Climate Change. Contribution of Working Group III to the Fifth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change,Cambridge University Press, 2014)
Thomas Stocker and others (editors): The Physical Science Basis. Contribution of Working Group I to the 5th Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, Cambridge University Press, 2013)
UNFCCC CDM, Project 0553: Recovery of Associated Gas that would otherwise be flared at Kwale Oil- gas Processing Plant, Nigeria, http://cdm.unfccc.int/Projects/DB/DNV-CUK1155130395.3/view accessed 9 June 2017
UNFCCC CDM, Project 2711: Efficient Fuel Wood Stoves for Nigeria, https://cdm.unfccc.int/Projects/DB/RWTUV1245685309.5/view accessed 13 July 2017.
UNFCCC CDM, Project 3740: Recovery and Marketing of Gas that would otherwise be flared at the Asuokpu/Umutu Marginal Field, Nigeria, http://cdm.unfccc.int/Projects/DB/SGS-UKL1274957530.75/view accessed 9 June 2017
UNFCCC CDM, Project 8747: Lafarge WAPCO Partial Substitution of Alternative Fuels in Cement Facilities Project in Nigeria, https://cdm.unfccc.int/Projects/DB/ER M-CVS1355402819.14/view accessed 13 July 2017
UNFCCC CDM, Project 9163: Recovery and Utilization of Associated Gas from the Obodugwa and neighbouring oil fields in Nigeria, https://cdm.unfccc.int/Projects/DB/RINA1356376663.73/view accessed 16 July 2017
UNFCCC, Project 7726: Kainji Hydropower Rehabilitation Project, Nigeria, http://cdm.unfccc.int/Projects/DB/AENOR 1350296581.55/view accessed 30 June 2017.
United Nations, Member states, http://www.un.org/en/member-states/ accessed 19 July 2017
United Nations, Report on the Impacts of Climate Change Mitigation Measures on Indigenous Peoples on their Territories and Lands, E/C 19/2008/10 (Unedited version)
UNRE DD Programme, Partner Countries, http://www.un-redd.org/partner-countries accessed 9 July 2017
UNRE DD Programme, The UN-RE DD Programme Strategy 2011-2015,UN-RE DD Programme Secretariat, 2011)
Yinka Omorogbe to: Kim Talus (editor), Research Handbook on International Energy Law, Edward Elgar, 2014, p.361
Zarina Patel to: Edgar Pieterse and others (editors), Consolidating Developmental Local Government: Lessons from the South African Experience, UCT Press, 2008), p. 357
List of instruments
A Bill for an Act to establish the National Climate Change Commission and for Other Matters Connected Therewith, http://nass.gov.ng/document/download/973 accessed 13 July 2017
ACHPR, Climate Change and Human Rights in Africa, ACHPR/Res 342(LVIII) (2016) 58th Ordinary Session
---------- Climate Change in Africa, Res 271 55th Ordinary Session
---------- Resolution on Climate Change and Human Rights and the Need to Study its Impact in Africa, ACHPR/Res153(XLVI)09 2009
African (Banjul) Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (adopted 27 June 1981, entered into force 21 October 1986) (1982) 21 ILM 58
African Charter (Ratification and Enforcement) Act (Cap 10, Laws of Federation of Nigeria 2004).
Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999
Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (18 December 1979) 13 UNTS 11249
Federal Republic of Nigeria, Great Green Wall for the Sahara and Sahel Initiative National Strategic Action Plan, (GGWSAP) 2012
---------- National Energy Policy 2003
----------National Policy on Environment, Act 42 1988
----------National Water Policy 2004
----------Nigeria Vision 20: 2020 Abridged Version 2010
----------Nigerian Bio-Fuel Policy and Incentives 2007
Fundamental Rights Enforcement Procedures Rules (2009) issued pursuant to s 46(3) of the Nigerian Constitution (FRE PR) 1999
‘General Comment No. 15: The Right to Water (Arts. 11 and 12 of the Covenant)’ in ‘Note by the Secretariat, Compilation of General Comments and General Recommendations adopted by Human Rights Treaty Bodies’ (2008) UN Doc HRI/GEN/1/Rev.9 (Vol. II)
Kyoto Protocol to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (11 December 1997) 37 ILM
National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESRE A) Establishment, Act No. 25, 2007
OHCHR, The Economic and Social Council Resolution 1985/17, 1985
Protection of global climate for present and future generations of mankind’ UNG.A. Res. 43/53, 70th plenary meeting 6 December 1988 (UNGA Resolution 43/53).
UN ‘General Comment No 12: The Right to Adequate Food (Art. 11)’ in ‘Note by the Secretariat, Compilation of General Comments and General Recommendations adopted by Human Rights Treaty Bodies’ UN Doc HRI/GEN/1/Rev.9 (Vol. II), 2008
UN General Comment No. 4: The Right to Adequate Housing (Art. 11 (1) of the Covenant)’ in, Note by the Secretariat, Compilation of General Comments or General Recommendations adopted by Human Rights Treaty Bodies, HRI/GEN/1/Rev.7 , 2004.
UN Economic and Social Cultural Rights Committee ,Concluding Observations, Nigeria, E/C.22/1/Add.23
UN Statute of the International Court of Justice, 18 April 1946
UNCHR General Comment 3: The Nature of States Parties’ Obligations (Art. 2, Para. 1, of the Covenant) In,Note by the Secretariat, Compilation of General Comments and General Recommendations adopted by Human Rights Treaty Bodies, UN Doc HRI/GEN/1/Rev.9 (Vol. II), 2008
UNFCCC, Conference of Parties, http://unfccc.int/bodies/body/6383.phpaccessed 9 July 2017
-------- The Cancun Agreements: Outcome of the work of the Ad-hoc Working Group on Long-term Cooperative Action under the Convention, (Decision 1/CP.16 ) FCCC/CP/2010/7/Add.1.
-------- The Timing and the Frequency of Presentations of the Summary of information on how all the Safeguards referred to in Decision 1/CP.16, appendix I, are being addressed and respected, Decision 12/CP.19, FCCC/CP/2013/10/Add.1 (Decision 12/CP.19)
--------- Guidance on Systems for Providing Information on How Safeguards are addressed and respected and Modalities relating to Forest Reference Emission Levels and Forest Reference Levels as referred to in Decision 1/CP.16, Decision 12/CP.17, FCCC/CP/2011/9/Add.2 (Decision 12/CP.17)/
UNGA, Human Rights Council, A/RE S/60/251 (2006) UNHRC ‘Current membership of the Human Rights Council, 1 January - 31 December 2016 by year when term expires’ http://www.ohchr.org/EN/HRB odies/HRC/Pages/MembersByYear.aspx accessed 13 July 2017
UNHRC, Human Rights and Climate Change, (25 March 2009) 41st Meeting (Resolution 10/4)
----------Human Rights and Climate Change, A/HRC/26/L.33 (23 June 2014) (Resolution 23/33)
----------Human Rights and Climate Change, A/HRC/RE S/18/22 (2011) (Resolution 18/22)
----------Report of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights on the Relationship between Climate Change and Human Rights,A/HRC/10/61 (15 January 2009)
----------Climate Change and Human Rights, A/HRC/32/L.34 (2016) (Resolution 32/L.34)
United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (1992) ILM 851
Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties (23 May 1969) 331 UNTS 1155 art 26(1)
Voluntary Tool for describing sustainable development co-benefits of CDM project activities or programmes of activities (POA) Version 01.1 (CDM SD Tool)
http://cdm.unfccc.int/sunsetcms/storage/contents/stored-file-20140401114548484/reg_tool01.doc accessed 9 July 2017
Judicial and quasi-judicial decisions
Abacha v Fawehinmi (2000) 6 NWLR (Part 660) 228.
Archbishop Anthony Olubunmi Okogie & Ors v. the Attorney General of Lagos State (1981)2 NCLR 337
Attorney General of Ondo State v Attorney General of the Federation (2002) 9 NWLR (Pt. 772) 222
Bamidele Aturu v Minister of Petroleum Resources and Others Suit No: FHC/ABJ/CS/591/09
Certain Expenses of the United Nations (Article 17, Paragraph 2, of the Charter) [1962] ICJ Rep 151, 163; confirmed by Legal Consequences of the Construction of a Wall in the Occupied Palestinian Territory [2004] ICJ
Communication 155/96, Social and Economic Rights Action Center (SER AC) and Center for Economic and Social Rights (CESR) v Nigeria
Higgs & Anor. v Minister of National Security & Ors (2000) 2 AC 228, PC
Mojekwu & Others v Ejikeme & Others (2000) 5 NWLR 402
Rv Inland Revenue Commissioners, ex. p. Camacq Corp. [1990] 1 WLR 191
Rv North and East Devon HA ex p Coughlan [2001] QB 213
Reparation for Injuries Suffered in the Service of the United Nations [1949] ICJ Rep 174, 178.
Schmidt v Secretary of State for Home Affairs (1969) 1 All ER 904
South West Africa (Ethiopia v S Africa; Liberia v S Africa) (Second Phase) [1966] ICJ Rep 6
Uzoukwu v Ezeonu II (1991) 6 NWLR Part 200
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
Authors who publish with this journal agree to the following terms:
- Authors are confirming that they are the authors of the submitting article, which will be published (print and online) in journal Dignitas by Nova univerza, Fakulteta za slovenske in mednarodne študije. Author’s name will be evident in the article in journal. All decisions regarding layout and distribution of the work are in hands of the publisher.
- Authors guarantee that the work is their own original creation and does not infringe any statutory or common-law copyright or any proprietary right of any third party. In case of claims by third parties, authors commit their self to defend the interests of the publisher, and shall cover any potential costs.
- Authors retain copyright and grant the journal right of first publication with the work simultaneously licensed under a
Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0)
that allows others to share the work with an acknowledgement of the work's authorship and initial publication in this journal. - Authors are able to enter into separate, additional contractual arrangements for the non-exclusive distribution of the journal's published version of the work (e.g., post it to an institutional repository or publish it in a book), with an acknowledgement of its initial publication in this journal.
- Authors are permitted and encouraged to post their work online (e.g., in institutional repositories or on their website) prior to and during the submission process, as it can lead to productive exchanges, as well as earlier and greater citation of published work.