Inam Karimov: Climate change affects all aspects of human life

The global climate change is causing a profound impact on the development of various countries, the evolution of the global economy, food security, ecological balance, people's lifestyles and health, natural disasters, disruption of ecosystems, and intensification of migration processes. Thus, climate change affects all areas of human life, and its consequences do not bypass the law either, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court and Chairman of the Judicial-Legal Council of Azerbaijan Inam Karimov said, Report informs.

Speaking at the opening ceremony of the international conference titled "Law and Climate" held in Baku, Karimov noted that these processes can lead to human rights violations, litigation, application of liability measures, formation of judicial practice:

"As a result, climate change is not only an ecological and socio-economic issue but also a legal one. The ongoing climate change is mainly the result of human behavior and activities. In this regard, we cannot fight climate change without first changing our behaviors, social norms, and attitudes towards the use of the environment.

For this reason, the law is not only subject to the consequences of climate change but also a means of regulating and preventing these processes. It is the law that is the main regulatory and effective tool in the fight against climate change, caring for and protecting nature and the environment.”

The chief noted that the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, the Kyoto Protocol, the Paris Agreement, and other international legal documents create obligations for states to take effective measures to prevent and eliminate the impacts of climate, reduce the effects of climate change, and ensure that people have the necessary opportunities to adapt to the climate crisis.

"International law defines the collective obligations of states to solve global environmental problems, especially climate change, and requires the adoption and implementation of national action plans to reduce greenhouse gas emissions,” he pointed out.

Karimov added that international law requires not only states but also companies to be accountable for their climate impacts and to participate responsibly in efforts to mitigate and adapt to climate change.

“International obligations ensure their implementation through legislative acts adopted in national law. Just as the creation of law depends on the activities of lawyers, their role is essential in its application. In this process, the coordinated activities of lawyers, prosecutors, judges, justice workers, human rights defenders, scientists, and other legal professionals make the adopted law effective,” the chairman highlighted.