‘Important opportunity’: Myanmar Rohingya genocide case to resume
The International Court of Justice (ICJ) is beginning proceedings to hear Myanmar’s preliminary objections to a genocide case brought against it over a brutal 2017 crackdown by the military on the mostly Muslim Rohingya. The proceedings, which start Monday, have been given added urgency and complicated by the coup that took place in Myanmar a little more than a year ago. The case was filed by The Gambia with the backing of the Organisation for Islamic Cooperation (OIC) after more than 700,000 Rohingya fled into neighbouring Bangladesh amid reports the Myanmar military burned entire villages and carried out “large-scale” killings, gang rape, and other abuses. A United Nations investigation found the crackdown had been carried out with “genocidal intent” and recommended that Commander in Chief Min Aung Hlaing and five generals be prosecuted. In December 2019, then-civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi travelled to The Hague to lead Myanmar’s defence, but she was removed from office in a coup in February last year by Myanmar’s military, who said their representatives would argue the preliminary objections in court. The National Unity Government (NUG), which includes elected legislators who were removed by the military, announced last week that it was withdrawing the objections and wanted the ICJ to proceed to the merits of the case. It has said UN Ambassador Kyaw Moe Tun, who was appointed by Aung San Suu Kyi’s government and remains in office, is “the only person authorised to engage with the Court on behalf of Myanmar”. The UN General Assembly’s credentials committee in December said Kyaw Moe Tun can remain in his post until it decides who should represent Myanmar. A briefing from Human Rights Watch and Global Justice Center said that the military’s participation at the ICJ hearings would have “no bearing on its recognition at the United Nations” noting that under ICJ rules “[s]tates have no permanent representatives accredited to the court. They normally communicate with the Registrar through their Minister for Foreign Affairs, or their ambassador accredited to the Netherlands”.
India targets net-zero carbon emissions by 2070, says Modi
India’s economy will become carbon neutral by the year 2070, the country’s prime minster has announced at the COP26 climate crisis summit in Glasgow. The target date is two decades beyond what scientists say is needed to avert catastrophic climate impacts. India is the last of the world’s major carbon polluters to announce a net-zero target, with China saying it would reach that goal in 2060, and the United States and the European Union aiming for 2050.
COP26: What climate summit means for one woman in Bangladesh
China's carbon emissions are vast and growing, dwarfing those of other countries. Experts agree that without big reductions in China's emissions, the world cannot win the fight against climate change. In 2020, China's President Xi Jinping said his country would aim for its emissions to reach their highest point before 2030 and for carbon neutrality before 2060. His statement has now been confirmed as China's official position ahead of the COP26 global climate summit in Glasgow. But China has not said exactly how these goals will be achieved.
Why China's climate policy matters to us all
China's carbon emissions are vast and growing, dwarfing those of other countries. Experts agree that without big reductions in China's emissions, the world cannot win the fight against climate change. In 2020, China's President Xi Jinping said his country would aim for its emissions to reach their highest point before 2030 and for carbon neutrality before 2060. His statement has now been confirmed as China's official position ahead of the COP26 global climate summit in Glasgow. But China has not said exactly how these goals will be achieved.
Deliver on promises, developing world tells rich at climate talks
A crucial U.N. conference heard calls on its first day for the world's major economies to keep their promises of financial help to address the climate crisis, while big polluters India and Brazil made new commitments to cut emissions. World leaders, environmental experts and activists all pleaded for decisive action to halt the global warming which threatens the future of the planet at the start of the two-week COP26 summit in the Scottish city of Glasgow on Monday. The task facing negotiators was made even more daunting by the failure of the Group of 20 major industrial nations to agree ambitious new commitments at the weekend.