Global Climate Change Action as a Jus Cogens Norm: Some Legal Reflections on the Emerging Evidence

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Marmolejo Cervantes, Miguel Ángel^{a; *} | Roeben, Volker^b | Solís, Lisa Reilly^c

Affiliations: [a] Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo Léon, Ciudad Universitaria, San Nicolás de los Garza, Nuevo León, Mexico | [b] Dean and Professor of International Law, Durham Law School, Durham University, Durham, UK | [c] Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo Léon, Ciudad Universitaria, San Nicolás de los Garza, Nuevo León, Mexico

Correspondence: [*] Corresponding author. E-mail: mmarmolejoc@uanl.edu.mx.

Abstract: This article analyzes the possibility of environmental obligations acquiring the status of jus cogens (peremptory) norms from six perspectives, namely, domestic legislation of States, national judicial decisions, academia and international organizations, United Nations documents and initiatives, treaties and international State practice, and international tribunals. Additionally, it is argued that the economic and political interests surrounding the military and fossil fuel industries and the vast resources dedicated to them hinder the world’s climate change efforts. Thus, the article presents two research questions. First, what are the possibilities of environmental obligations becoming peremptory norms of international law? Second, if these obligations currently do not meet the requirements to be recognized as jus cogens, what would be required for them to obtain this status?

Keywords: Climate change, environmental State obligations, jus cogens, international law-making, military, fossil fuel industry

DOI: 10.3233/EPL-219019

Journal: Environmental Policy and Law, vol. 52, no. 5-6, pp. 359-373, 2022