Indigenous Cultural Property Law is a complex and evolving area of law that encompasses a wide range of issues related to the protection of Indigenous knowledge. The laws in this area are designed to recognize the unique relationship that Indigenous peoples have with their cultural heritage and to ensure their rights to their cultural heritage are respected and protected. I developed a particular interest in Indigenous Cultural Property Law at COP 27, which was often mentioned in conversations with Indigenous leaders and environmental activists. As I reflect on the critical takeaways from COP 27, I decided to amplify a set of claims using Indigenous Cultural Property Law as a framework.
Category: Policy
World’s Largest Auto Markets Absent from COP26 Zero-Emission Agreement, But There is Still Hope
Thirty-eight countries and eleven automakers signed the Declaration on Accelerating the Transition to 100% Zero Emission Cars and Vans at COP26 in Glasgow, the first global pledge to accelerate the replacement of highly-polluting internal combustion engine vehicles with electric vehicles. The main goal of this agreement is to work towards all sales of new cars and vans being …
Creating a More Sustainable (Business) Environment?
The call to “end the climate crisis” has inspired many governments, businesses, and people to change their habits and restructure societies towards a more sustainable future. However, COP 26 highlighted that the call alone is not enough to save our planet. Industries, governments, and communities have found that behavior changes are difficult to achieve when …
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The US is back but is it better than ever?
Week 2 University of Michigan Student Delegates COP26 Glasgow Scotland Being able to attend an international United Nations conference has been a dream of mine for many years. Attending a conference like that as an observer feels energetic and inspiring. There are many like minded individuals all around you inspired to work on the very …
The Irony of a Climate Change Conference: COP26
I recently had the opportunity to travel to COP26 as a member of the University of Michigan’s Delegation. What an experience! Attending events and plenaries where the discussions of climate action were taking place was exciting and yet frustrating. Frustrating because the negotiations were not progressing fast enough and were not aggressive enough to combat …
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“Keep Polluters Out, Let the People In:” A Rallying Call for Climate Justice at COP25
Since 1995, the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) has hosted the yearly Conferences of Parties (COP) to facilitate international climate policy. Organizations from around the world gather to set the agenda for coordinated action on climate change. Marking its 25th meeting, COP25 suffered multiple setbacks beginning during the planning stages and continuing …
COP24 to World: No Climate Progress Without Diversification!
The Problem of Implementation: In the face of immediate climate impacts and a closing window of opportunity to avoid irreversible catastrophic damage (see IPCC Special Report on 1.5 Degrees Celsius), the global policy toolbox to combat climate change appears limited. At COP24, delegations readily acknowledged these conditions, calling for a drastic ramp up of efforts …
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UNwelcome: The Gap between Science and the Negotiations
During my time in Katowice, Poland, I set out to get a better handle on how science and policy intertwine at the COP. After all, science is supposed to be the foundation for the work of the UNFCCC and the COP. But functionally, to what extent is climate science really the basis upon which the …
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A Translator Needed
At COP24 in Katowice, Poland, over one hundred languages are spoken in the hallways and rooms of the International Conference Centre and Spodek Arena where the negotiations are held. In light of this fact, a host of translators are on hand to ensure that country representatives and observer delegates do not face any language barriers …
Looking (23 years) Back
(This blog post was written by Sindhu Bharadwaj, a delegate to this year's Conference of Parties.) The proceedings at the 23rd Conference of Parties closed just over three months ago. This purpose of this year’s meeting was mainly technical. Negotiators from all over the world were to iron out the details of implementing the Paris …
Climate Blue 