Approximately 150 Japanese fishermen hailing from the Fukushima Prefecture filed a lawsuit on Friday in their regional district court. The defendants in this case are the government and the TEPCO company. This legal action revolves around the discharge of radioactive treated water from the Fukushima-1 nuclear power plant. The fishermen assert that the release of [...]
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Edwin Gakunga is a student at the Kenya School of Law and a JURIST Assistant Editor. He files this dispatch from Nairobi. Filing from the vibrant city of Nairobi, Kenya, I find myself privileged to be a part of history, reporting for JURIST at the inaugural Africa Climate Summit (ACS) hosted right here at the iconic [...]
Interview: Axel Voss of the European Parliament Discusses Europe’s New AI Act (Part 1)
The more humanity develops, the more problems it creates. As if overpopulation, environmental pollution, and climate change weren’t enough, we have introduced an uncontrollable alternative to our own intellects to the fray. In recent months, amid the proliferation of Chat GPT, Google Bard, and other consumer-accessible AI chatbots, media outlets have reported that AI ‘could [...]
UN committee publishes authoritative guidance on children's rights amidst climate crisis
The United Nations (UN) Committee on the Rights of the Child on Monday published authoritative guidance concerning children’s rights with respect to the environment amidst growing concerns of climate change. The guidance urges member states to swiftly implement intervention measures to address the adverse impacts of environmental degradation and protect children’s right to a clean [...]
Montana court rules in favor of youth plaintiffs in landmark climate trial
A Montana state judge ruled Monday that a provision of state law is unconstitutional because it violates “the right to a clean and healthful environment,” a fundamental right enshrined in Montana’s Constitution. The ruling is in favor of a group of youth plaintiffs who alleged that the state of Montana failed to protect them and [...]
UN human rights chief warns Iraq water crisis may affect other countries in the region
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk concluded his visit to Iraq on Wednesday, and warned that Iraq’s water crisis may cause wider regional implications that require actions from all countries to manage water resources as a global public good. His visit marked the first time a UN High Commissioner for Human Rights visited [...]
UK High Court finds expansion of London ultra-low emission zone lawful
The UK High Court ruled on Friday that expanding the ultra-low emission zone (ULEZ) to London’s outer boroughs is lawful and will begin on August 29. The expansion was first introduced in November 2022 in an effort to improve the city’s air quality and encourage the use of public transportation. As a result of the [...]
US conservation groups sue EPA over air pollution requirements
Conservationist groups Center for Biological Diversity and 350 Colorado filed a petition for review in the US Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit on Monday against the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) over its air pollution practices. Specifically at issue in the petition is the EPA’s approval of parts of the 8-Hour Ozone Attainment [...]
New Jersey reaches $393M settlement with materials company over 'forever chemicals'
The New Jersey Attorney General and Commissioner of Environmental Protection announced on Wednesday that they reached a settlement with Solvay Specialty Polymers USA, LLC, the US subsidiary of a Belgian company, over the release of so-called “forever chemicals.” In total, officials say Solvay agreed to financial commitments of $393 million. Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), [...]
Nigeria oil spill at Shell facility threatens livelihoods amid ongoing litigation
Activists in Nigeria on Wednesday reported that a new oil spill occurred in Rivers State and is actively threatening the region’s water supply. The leak has been contained, but activists remain concerned over the perceived inaction by Nigerian authorities to address previous spills and ongoing pollution problems. According to the National Oil Spill Detection and [...]