legality and effective use of human-rights based climate litigation as social movement activism in the promotion/protection of development

Lead Research Organisation: King's College London
Department Name: Geography

Abstract

This research project will focus on an interdisciplinary focus
on climate litigation and its impact as a legal tool of social
movement activism on development. Within this topic, I
question initially whether climate litigation can be
considered a tool of legal social activism for development
and, thereafter under what conditions this is possible.
Climate litigation presents an array of environmental
developmental possibilities, which is displayed through the
recent successes of cases such as 'Lliuya v. RWE AG' and
'Leghari v. Federation of Pakistan'. These cases show that
this could promise the possibility of mass social movement
activism through climate litigation. It provides a platform
where vulnerable groups can advocate for their own
developmental priorities and policy change, especially for
the protection of their environment. This research will
employ theoretical research in social movement theory,
public policy and environmental development and apply
this to inductive research of case studies and legal
practices. This presents a vital opportunity to present
academic research between environmental policy and
development, and consider the idea of a new form of social
movement practice that could have widespread effects in
the future.

Publications

10 25 50

Studentship Projects

Project Reference Relationship Related To Start End Student Name
ES/P000703/1 01/10/2017 30/09/2027
2887194 Studentship ES/P000703/1 01/10/2023 30/09/2027 Medhini Pathirana