Today we released a new briefing analyzing the health impacts of invisible micro- and nano-plastics in the air: ciel.org/reports/airbor…
A short thread with key takeaways from the brief 🧵👇
🥤Multiple sources, same origin: #Microplastics are ubiquitous in our environment, but they are mainly invisible. They can be intentionally produced or result from the fragmentation of larger plastics. They are part of the bigger #StoryOfPlastics, as they are a human creation.
When airborne, micro- and #Nanoplastics can travel quickly & cover great distances.
They can move thousands of kilometers in a matter of days to weeks, affecting even remote populations.
Humans can breathe airborne these #Plastics that move through the body via the bloodstream.
#Microplastics act like a “Trojan Horse” 🎠capable of hiding harmful substances &carrying them inside bodies via inhalation, absorption & ingestion. These harmful substances include hormone-disrupting chemicals linked to diabetes, infertility & hormone-related cancers. #EDCFree
Studies on the inhalation of micro & nanoparticles of plastics show a series of adverse effects along the respiratory tract & beyond, including
😱 Irritation
😱 Cancer
😱 Effects in early childhood development.
Exposure to airborne #Microplastics is not happening in a vacuum. Humans are exposed to multiple pollutants and hazardous chemicals daily ☠️.
Policymakers need to apply the #PrecautionaryPrinciple to address the risks of combined exposure.
If no action is taken, the volume of airborne #Microplastic will follow the expected rise in plastic production, resulting in a greater risk for people & the planet.
It's high time to:
📉 Dramatically reduce the #PlasticsProduction &
⛔️ Phase out hazardous chemicals.
Today is a BIG day for #ClimateJustice with not one but two critical developments at international institutions advancing efforts to clarify & enforce States’ #HumanRights obligations in the face of #ClimateChange.
The 1⃣ critical development is the first-ever public hearings at the @ECHR_CEDH on climate cases addressing the duty of states to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, including a case brought by the @KlimaSeniorin against Switzerland.
The2⃣ development is the historic adoption by the #UNGA of a resolution calling upon the world’s highest court, @CIJ_ICJ, to issue an opinion on State legal responsibilities to protect the climate system for present & future generations & the consequences of failing to do so.
For the 1st time, the @ECHR_CEDH is holding two public hearings in #Climate cases.
CIEL's @duycks is in Strasbourg 🇫🇷 attending the hearings, follow him for updates from the ground.
A🧵👇
What are these climate cases?
@KlimaSeniorin, @DamienCAREME & @Y4CJ_ are calling on the court to hold States accountable for not doing enough to protect their citizens from the impacts of climate change.
These are unprecedented hearings because the European Court of Human Rights will
👉 Address the duty of states to reduce greenhouse gas emissions,
👉 Clarify the link between #HumanRights and the climate crisis,
👉 Clarify States' obligations to #ActOnClimate.
This week, CIEL's Senior Campaigner @lienvandamme is in Luxor 🇪🇬 to attend the first meeting of the Transitional Committee (#TC1) of the #LossAndDamageFund.
Follow the live stream:
Here's a 🧵 on what #TC1 is about and why it matters👇
At the climate talks #COP27, States agreed to:
1⃣ Create new funding arrangements to address the impacts of #ClimateChange in vulnerable countries, incl. a #LossAndDamageFund
2⃣ Establish a Transitional Committee that will meet throughout 2023 to decide the details of this fund.
No actual money has yet been pledged 💸 & yet – the decision at #COP28 to create a #LossAndDamageFund is a crucial 1st step towards a #ClimateJustice future in which communities are fairly compensated for the losses they are suffering due to a crisis they had no role in creating.
🚨 In the last hours at #COP27 Parties proposed a new agreement on #CarbonMarkets that does not include any meaningful references to #HumanRights & Indigenous Peoples rights & could undermine ambition & effective #ClimateAction.
🗣️ This text MUST BE REJECTED.
🟢The good: The recommendations on #Article6o4 (carbon markets) will be sent back to the #SupervisoryBody with a request for more stakeholder engagement BUT this will be the same body tasked with the same mandate that came up with a very bad decision at the beginning of #COP27.
The bad:
🔴 No operative reference to #HumanRights, #IndigenousPeoples rights & labour rights
🔴 No reference to the work needed to be grounded in intl law & science
🔴 Reference to environmental & social impacts opens the door for the weakening of language & sets precedents.
Forests play a vital role in:
🧯 Mitigating #ClimateChange,
🐿️ Protecting biodiversity, and
🫒 Supporting the lives and livelihoods of #IndigenousPeoples and forest-dependent communities.
The ability of forest ecosystems to fulfill these critical functions is increasingly threatened by deforestation and forest degradation.
Curbing illegal logging and #TimberTrade is a critical but neglected component in addressing global deforestation.