International Climate Law: recapping, reviewing, and exposing state responses to climate change

Murphy, Ashley (2021) International Climate Law: recapping, reviewing, and exposing state responses to climate change. Keele Law Review, 2. pp. 25-44. ISSN 2732-5679

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Abstract

International climate law came into existence in 1992 through the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). Since then, there has been the Kyoto Protocol 1997 and the Paris Agreement 2015. Yet, despite the existence of international law to address climate change the threat does not just continue to exist but is exacerbating. The purpose of this paper is to provide a recap of international climate law to contextualise the pathway that has led to the current response through the nationally determined contributions system of the Paris Agreement. A response which continues to prove unable to stimulate states to take the required action to address the threat of climate change. In short, this paper argues that international climate law continues to be an inadequate response to climate change.