IMPACT’s Post

Comments to Tanzania Environmental Expert Association (TEEA) We commend the Tanzania Environmental Expert Association (TEEA) for its dedication to protecting the interests of its members and promoting excellence in Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) practices. As a leading environmental expert association, TEEA is well-positioned to drive meaningful change and advocate for sustainable development in Tanzania. We kindly request TEEA to advise the government on "The Right to a Healthy Environment: From Recognition to Implementation in Tanzania," emphasizing education on ecological conversion. Across cultures and now in international law, humanity’s interconnection with nature has been acknowledged. This was reinforced by the United Nations’ recognition of the universal right to a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment. This landmark decision underscores the urgency of addressing climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution—the triple planetary crisis exacerbated by systemic inequalities. Recognizing humanity as an integral part of nature highlights the critical importance of environmental justice and sustainable coexistence. Globally, the right to a healthy environment is increasingly recognized as a fundamental human right. This acknowledgment reflects the deep interdependence between human well-being and environmental health, a relationship that is especially crucial for Tanzania, where natural resources form the backbone of many livelihoods. Tanzania’s efforts toward realizing this right demonstrate notable progress despite challenges. These advancements are part of a larger global movement, exemplified by the 2021 UN Human Rights Council resolution and its reaffirmation by the General Assembly in 2022. Such milestones build on foundational agreements, including the 1972 Stockholm Declaration and regional frameworks like the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights. With over 150 countries now embedding this right into their constitutions, laws, or treaties, its significance continues to grow worldwide. We believe that TEEA can play a pivotal role in furthering this progress by fostering awareness and advocating for actionable policies that promote ecological education and sustainability in Tanzania. Thank you for your continued efforts toward a healthier and more sustainable environment for all.

On December 12, Kazakh environmental activists, scientists, and thought leaders launched #SaveTheCaspianSea campaign to address the unfolding ecological crisis of the Caspian Sea. Speaking at the event launch, our Executive Director, Kate Watters, shared that “we [SCS] are leveraging global expertise and resources to address this crisis and demand justice, transparency, and preservation for one of the world’s most significant ecosystems.” Learn more about the Save the Caspian Sea campaign: https://lnkd.in/gM-CeDuh

Environmental Advocacy:  Environmental issues are increasingly urgent in Africa, particularly as climate change impacts livelihoods and ecosystems. Advocacy for sustainable practices is critical for preserving the environment for future generations. Organizations like Greenpeace Africa and local activists are working tirelessly to raise awareness and promote environmental conservation. They highlight that environmental justice is intertwined with social justice, making it a crucial advocacy area. What environmental issues do you believe require more advocacy in your community? Share your thoughts! #EnvironmentalAdvocacy #Sustainability #Africa #AFCLAD

✍️🗣️ The Joint Public Advisory Committee (#JPAC) just submitted an Advice to North America’s top environment authorities, following the November 2023 Public Forum in #Oaxaca, #Mexico on Approaches to #Freshwater Management. 💧   JPAC recommended: 🔵Continuing to support relationship building among #Indigenous Peoples, community-led and not-for-profit organizations, and other public and private key actors, as a key component for developing successful partnerships among them, and for weaving Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) and Indigenous perspectives into the work of the CEC.   🟢Supporting Indigenous and community-led conservation efforts through a knowledge, practices, and experience-sharing process.   🟡Explore additional ways to further expand participation from diverse populations, in particular, from #youth and Indigenous Peoples, into the activities of the CEC.   Check out JPAC’s latest Advice to Council: 👉https://lnkd.in/gSMTRkzG

Delighted to have the opportunity to speak at the Hybrid Workshop on Litigation and Dispute Resolution in Transnational Ecological Conflicts: The Role of Judicial and Non-Judicial Mechanisms, hosted in Arusha, Tanzania from November 19 - 21, 2024. The Workshop will examine the role of the courts in global environmental and climate issues, including how these courts intervene in these issues; when they are activated to resolve transnational conflicts and the effectiveness of litigation in achieving its objectives, particularly concerning environmental justice and access to remedies for people, ecosystems and territories affected or threatened by environmental degradation. This workshop brings together for the first time experts from several continents to reflect on these issues in Arusha, the judicial capital of Africa, including visits to the African Court of Human Rights and the East African Court. Check out the Workshop Programme at https://lnkd.in/eR2FJia7, and enjoy the smorgasbord of Panels. I will present on Panel 3, with a Presentation on ‘Climate Change, Caribbean Large Ocean States & Community Defenders: Experiences with Article 9 of the Escazú Agreement in the Caribbean Region’ on November 20, 2024 and on Panel 7 with a Presentation on ‘From Africa to Latin America & the Caribbean: Trans-Atlantic Tradeoffs of the Twenty First Century’ on November 21, 2024. Continuing the research excellence in climate justice! #Autumn2024 #ResolutenessResearchResilience #InternationalEnvironmentalHumanRightsAndEnergyLawyer #Expert #Publicist #ActivistAcademic #ExcellenceNotMediocrity #DavidsAndGoliaths #PresentAndFutureDirections #ForwardToRestoration #YOLO #YODO #LivingFiercely #NeverGiveUp #Phoenix 💙 🐠 🌊 💚 🦚🌳

‘These networks allow us to spread information, share our experiences and create strategies to help us defend our collective rights. It not only strengthens solidarity between communities, but also helps us mobilize and construct joint responses and demands in the face of the threats and injustices we face.’ While we wait for states to act on environmental protection and to implement existing mechanisms like the Escazú Agreement and goals set at the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, regional autonomous alliances like BILM are crucial for pushing this agenda forward and ensuring that strategies come from the grassroots. But without dedicated state protection, these actors’ lives and livelihoods are on the line. How real action on environmental justice comes from Latin America’s community alliances, by me and Eliana Lafone for Mongabay. https://lnkd.in/gBQknY7u

#EarthDay: The participation and empowerment of citizens in all their diversity are the keys to healthy and resilient democracies, and nowhere is that more apparent than in the realm of environmental sustainability. The unique climate-related challenges that face communities around the world require innovative, local solutions that address the needs of those affected, especially the marginalized communities who feel the effects of climate change most acutely. That is why the National Democratic Institute (NDI) is proud to partner with TERRE Liban, a Lebanese organization, on the “Building Environmentally Sustainable Municipalities” program, with financial support from Porticus. This program, titled “Democratic Eco Municipalities,” makes clear the links between democracy, citizen participation, and the efficiency of local environmental protection. It spanned three villages in Lebanon—Anjar, Douma, and Majdel Selm—and combined the local knowledge and needs of citizens with the technical expertise of legal and environmental experts to create a roadmap to a sustainable future. By contextualizing the diverse needs and perspectives of different members of the community with environmental and legal technical expertise, each of these three communities were able to develop a common understanding of environmental challenges and build a cross-community action plan. ✍🏽: Kara Joyce Read more: https://bit.ly/444ATBG

🌿Advancing Environmental Justice Across Trinidad and Tobago!⚖️ 📢CANARI and implementing partner Environment Tobago recently hosted two impactful Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) trainings for Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) as part of the EnviroRightsTT project. 📍 Tobago: Oct 15, 2024 📍 Trinidad: Oct 29, 2024 Led by project partner EquiGov Institute, these sessions equipped participants with the skills to leverage the FOIA to access vital environmental information, promoting transparency and advocating for inclusive decision-making📄🤝🔍. Funded by the European Union, these trainings empower civil society to protect the right to a healthy environment and strengthen sustainable development efforts across the country.🌱 Together, we’re fostering public participation, transparency, and environmental governance for a more sustainable Trinidad and Tobago!🌟 #EnviroRightsTT #FreedomOfInformationAct #EnvironmentalJustice #Transparency #EnvironmentalGovernance #SustainableDevelopment #CivilSociety

Excellent lecture by Etienne Oosthuizen, the manager of the Savory Institute Hub at the Africa Centre for Holistic Management in Zimbabwe, on regeneration! The decline of large ungulate herds in the Kaza region has caused notable environmental issues. The Africa Centre for Holistic Management offers a clear solution to turn these challenges around, showcasing the principles and results of holistic management. #Regeneration #Sustainability https://lnkd.in/gTkzKfjE

Get involved and find out more about how the #EscazuAgreement can help deliver #EnvironmentalJustice and #ClimateJustice in the Caribbean.