Professor Stephen Minas Speaks in New York Climate Justice

STL Assistant Professor Stephen Minas participated in the conference on the theme of ‘UNited for Climate Justice’ in New York. The conference, a side-event of the United Nations Climate Action Summit, was the culmination of a year-long initiative of the Foundation for European Progressive Studies (FEPS) focused on identifying policies and legal reforms to tackle climate change at the international and national levels. Dr Minas participated in the UNited for Climate Justice steering committee, chaired by the Spanish Minister for the Ecological Transition, Teresa Ribera, and also drafted the executive summary of the initiative’s proposals.

In his remarks, Dr Minas emphasized the need for climate change policy to respect and give effect to fundamental human rights and freedoms, while also addressing emerging human rights challenges such as climate displacement. Dr Minas also discussed the importance of finance to the transition to a climate-neutral economy and some of the key financial reforms and instruments involved, including sustainable procurement, green bonds and carbon disclosure.

Conference speakers included Luis Alfonso de Alba, the UN Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for the 2019 Climate Summit; Maria Damanaki, Global Managing Director for Oceans, The Nature Conservancy; Laurence Tubiana, CEO, European Climate Foundation; Teresa Ribera, Minister for the Ecological Transition, Spain; and Dan Jørgensen, Minister for Climate, Energy and Utilities, Denmark.