Melita Elmore’s Post

🌟 Big Win for the Right to a Healthy Environment! 🌟 I am thrilled to share some groundbreaking news from Hawai’i that underscores a significant milestone in environmental law and youth advocacy. Last week, a youth-led case, Navahine v. Hawaiʻi Department of Transportation, became the first settlement in a constitutional climate case that mandates the systemic decarbonization of a state transportation system. This landmark victory not only reaffirms the right to a clean and healthful environment but also sets a precedent for the global community. It demonstrates that with political will and leadership, states can adopt realistic plans and pathways to achieve zero emissions in their transportation sectors, serving as a blueprint for decarbonizing other sectors. Key Highlights of the Agreement: Harm: Climate change impacts amplify annually, and children are uniquely vulnerable to its consequences. Rights: The right to a clean environment includes a life-sustaining climate system, with the State obligated to protect air and other resources. Science: The State commits to reducing GHG emissions from transportation using the best available science, targeting atmospheric CO2 levels below 350 ppm this century. Action: The Agreement commits Hawai’i to creating a carbon-negative economy by 2045, establishing a Greenhouse Gas Reduction Plan, reforming HDOT’s budgeting, and creating a new leadership unit for policy implementation. Youth Involvement: Youth plaintiffs will have a seat at the table, with HDOT providing them with opportunities for feedback and input. More on the case can be found here: Press Release on Navahine Settlement -OCT/EJ - FINAL (squarespace.com) In the coming years, Our Children'sTrust Trust, Earthjustice, and climate experts will advise Hawai’i on their path forward, ensuring the terms of the Agreement are met. Youth Plaintiffs will play a crucial role in shaping policies, and communities across Hawai’i will hold their government accountable, embracing a fossil-free, electrified future. Congratulations to colleagues for their amazing work in getting the right to healthy and clan environment getting recognition in national jurisdictions! Over the last months, ARTICLE 19 has joined a coalition that is advocating for the recognition of the right in Europe through the adoption of a protocol to the European Convention on Human Rights. Stay tuned! #EnvironmentalJustice #ClimateAction #YouthAdvocacy #Decarbonization #NavahineSettlement #CleanEnvironment #Hawai’iLeadership

I was pleased to contribute a piece to the Conservative Environment Network’s blog about how the Conservative Party can create a new generation of conservative environmentalists. The General Election was disastrous, and the Party must learn two important lessons: 1. To stop quibbling about the need for environmental action; and 2. To better highlight our successes in Government, of which there were many. All is not lost. The Party will rebuild. But green conservatism must play its part in this recovery.

important petition below 👇

On this #worldenvironmentday as we focus on land restoration, halting desertification and building drought resilience we need to come together and take part in reforestration, restoration of water catchment areas and advocate for swift implementation of policies that effectively address climate change. When children, youth, men, women, change makers, policy makers stand united we can collectively take part in climate advocacy. We are the generation that can make peace with land. Lets do this PAMOJA Barnfonden #generationrestoration #WorldEnvironementDay #PAMOJA

Our approach to communicating climate change has to adopt dialogue and negotiation, and not only focus on campaign and advocacy. This will facilitate trust-building, empowerment, efficiency, accountability, and sustainability among community members. https://bitly.ws/3dfjU

Great article by Michael Slezak. Public interest litigation, and access to justice, are critical to our democracy. Allowing multibillion-dollar corporations to silence First Nations peoples and charities perpetuates inequalities and diminishes accountability. We need to go national with the ACT's laws inhibiting Strategic Litigation Against Public Participation suits. The actions of governments and corporations should never be beyond the reach of the courts and beyond review. https://lnkd.in/gxfYDvDU

The Children’s Environmental Health Network’s Voter Guide is now available! This resource provides an easy guide to assessing local, state, and federal candidates on how well they keep the health of children and their environments at the center of policy-making decisions. https://lnkd.in/eKxx_T6U

‼️EVER HEARD OF A CLIMATE JUSTICE SONG IN A TRADITIONAL LANGUAGE? So excited to share our first advocacy tool- a climate justice song dubbed ‘Toning’o’- meaning Listen! Sang by 3 Maasai local artists As a grassroot organization working with the indigenous pastoral communities in Kenya, we noted with great concern the lack of their engagement in climate decision making spaces hence their needs ignored. In addition, these communities also lack awareness on climate justice & the appropriate channels to attain it despite being amongst those worst hit by the impacts of #climatechange We therefore resorted to, through our advocacy program dubbed “Pastoralists Awake; a common voice and agenda” start an intensive internal awareness creation phase to first of all inform the community on climate justice, before strategising on how to effectively claim it. Our aim is to create a movement of a well-informed, knowledgeable pastoral community capable of working towards climate justice. In particular, we are working towards reparations for the historical losses & damages our communities have experienced & therefore aligning our campaign along the loss and damage fund! Listen to Toning’o here: https://lnkd.in/dWZm_wXt #climatejustice #advocacy #youthled #indigenous #lossanddamage #climateaction #climatechange Oxfam Climate Emergency Collaboration Group Climate Justice Resilience Fund Loss and Damage Youth Coalition The Loss and Damage Collaboration Global Fund for Women Indigenous Climate Action

🌍 Nonprofits, ready to amplify your advocacy efforts for environmental justice? Our latest resource, Earth and Equity, is here to help you navigate the complexities of lobbying and advocacy while staying compliant with the law. From grassroots organizing to litigation, whether you’re fighting for clean energy or safe water, let Earth and Equity guide your way. Download today and let's work towards a more just and equitable planet together. https://lnkd.in/eEgk9tDY 💪 #EnvironmentalJustice #EarthAndEquity #NonprofitAdvocacy

Sharing this excellent UNICEF trilogy (a report and two articles) on putting children's rights, needs and voices at the center of the new UNFCCC climate change Loss and Damage Fund. Kudos to the authors and organizations behind this: Lucy Szaboova, Cristina Colon, UNICEF, Save the Children International, Plan International, Loss and Damage Youth Coalition, Children's Environmental Rights Initiative, International Centre for Climate Change and Development (ICCCAD). Loss and Damage Finance for Children: https://lnkd.in/eepNaQKp The Urgent Need for a Child-centred Loss and Damage Fund: https://lnkd.in/e8tQdKCC Six Ways We Can Make Loss and Damage Finance Work for Children: https://lnkd.in/et_qssHQ #LossandDamage #ClimateChange