We invite expressions of interest for participation in a workshop organized as part of a Partnership Research Project on “Climate Change and Reparations,” to be held at the Université de Montréal on 15 April 2025. For more information about the project, please visit the Global Network for Human Rights and the Environment (GNHRE) project page. 

Context 

As the realities of climate change become increasingly dire, communities worldwide face the devastating impacts of climate change, from rising sea levels to extreme weather events, disproportionately affecting those who have contributed the least to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. In this context, impacted individuals and communities are progressively seeking recourse in international and regional courts and tribunals to clarify their rights and the obligations of states and corporations amidst the climate crisis and seek accountability and reparative justice (for context, see here). 

Reparations encompass a range of responses, including financial compensation, restoration of ecosystems, and support for adaptation measures. This workshop seeks to discuss the concept of climate reparations within the realm of international law as a tool to contribute to developing a coherent theoretical framework for understanding how the system must adapt to promote inclusive international climate justice, and identify adequate remedies for those affected by climate change. The workshop also aims to facilitate an interdisciplinary dialogue examining climate reparations’ legal, political, and practical dimensions. 

We will address critical questions under international climate law, such as: What responsibilities do developed nations have towards developing nations disproportionately affected by climate change? How can international law effectively support claims for reparations? What role do human rights frameworks play in advancing such claims? What role do international organizations play in promoting reparations for climate change damage? What role do international, regional, and domestic courts play in climate change reparations? 

In particular, we wish to explore Third World Approaches to International Law (TWAIL) and the implications of reparations for Least Developed Countries (LDCs) and Small Island Developing States (SIDS), Indigenous peoples, vulnerable and marginalized communities (women, children, persons with disabilities, LGBTQ+, rural communities, and afro-descendant communities), and future generations. 

Topics 

The conference aims to foster a collaborative environment for sharing insights and building networks among researchers, legal experts, and practitioners from within and outside the legal community, including economics, political science, and climate science. We welcome submissions from different disciplines, including interdisciplinary contributions. 

Contributions may explore, but are not limited to, the following themes: 

Theoretical Frameworks, Legal Mechanisms and Instruments:

• State responsibility and climate change. 
• Private sector, financial institutions, and fossil fuel industry responsibility and climate change. 
• Common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capacities (CBDR-RC) principle in the international climate change regime. 
• Transboundary damage and climate change. 
• Historical precedents for reparations in international law. 
• Analysis of existing international treaties and agreements related to climate change and reparations. 
• Role of human rights law in addressing climate-related harms. 

Indigenous Rights and Climate Justice:

• The impact of climate change on Indigenous communities and the role of reparations. 
• Integrating traditional knowledge into legal frameworks for climate reparations. 
• Indigenous peoples’ rights and climate reparations. 
• Procedural rights in promoting climate reparations. 
• Community engagement and public participation in reparations processes. 
• Future generations and climate reparations. 

Financing Reparations:

• Framing and reporting climate finance and reparations. 
• The nature and role of funding mechanisms for climate reparations. 
• Modeling and valuing climate change-related harms. 
• Public and private sector roles in facilitating reparations. 
• Multilateral funds to address loss and damage. 
• Economic models for climate reparations. 

International Cooperation and Governance:

• Challenges and opportunities for multilateral cooperation on climate reparations. 
• The role of international organizations in promoting reparations for climate change damage. 
• The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change process and reparations for climate change. 

Submission Guidelines 

Interested participants are invited to submit abstracts of their intended contributions of no more than 300 words by 15 January 2025. Please include the following information in your submission: 

-Title of the contribution; 
-Author(s) name(s), country of origin, and affiliation(s); 
-Contact information. 

We encourage submissions from scholars in all career levels, the Global North and the Global South. Selected participants will be notified by 15 February 2025, and will be required to submit a short article of around 2,000 words by 15 March 2025. All submissions will be considered for publication. Accepted participants are required to present their research at the workshop (online participation is accepted). Due to funding constraints, a limited number of financial assistance may be available to early-career researchers. 

This workshop represents the first phase of a longer project on climate reparations. Selected participants may be invited to submit longer versions of their papers to be considered for publication in a special issue of a peer-reviewed journal or edited book. 

This workshop is supported in part by funding from a Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) Partnership Engage grant. 

Contact Information 

For inquiries and abstract submissions, please contact camille.martini@fd.ulaval.ca.