Open AccessFirst Nations Peoples, Climate Change, Human Rights and Legal Rights
Author(s) -
Narelle Bedford,
Tony McAvoy SC,
Lindsey Stevenson-Graf
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
university of queensland law journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1839-289X
pISSN - 0083-4041
DOI - 10.38127/uqlj.v40i3.6125
Subject(s) - human rights , law , political science , climate change , international human rights law , reservation of rights , fundamental rights , sociology , right to property , ecology , biology
This article provides a First Nations standpoint on climate change, informed by human rights law and legal education. It is co-authored by a Yuin woman who is a law academic, a Wirdi man who is a Queens Counsel, and a human rights law academic. The article argues that for any responses to climate change to be effective, they must be grounded in the perspectives, knowledge, and rights of First Nations peoples. The utility of human rights instruments to protect First Nation interests in a climate change milieu is explored at the international and domestic levels. Concomitantly, structural change must begin with the Indigenisation of legal education and the embedding of legal responses to climate change into the law curriculum. A holistic approach is necessary.