Climate justice: UN Special Rapporteur on the Right to Development's insights on loss and damage

Australia, like many countries, faces increasing disasters driven by climate change. Scientists warn that these events will become more frequent and severe. With 2023 being the hottest year on record and sea levels at all-time highs, the situation is expected to worsen. Despite these alarming trends, the Paris Agreement offers no compensation for loss and damage, and insurance and government relief fall short.

This event presents a rare opportunity to hear directly from the UN Special Rapporteur on the Right to Development, Professor Surya Deva, just days after presenting his pivotal Climate Justice: Loss and Damage report to the United Nations General Assembly. 

Professor Deva presents a climate justice framework with four pillars: mitigation, adaptation, remediation, and transformation, underpinned by 12 human rights principles. Professor Deva proposes a range of actions for states, international financial institutions, and businesses to address loss and damage. 

Discover what decisive, multi-pronged actions are needed to address this critical issue and how climate justice can shape our collective future. 

This event will include a presentation of the Climate Justice: Loss and Damage Report, including a Q+A session, followed by an hour of networking and canapes. 

Speakers

Surya Deva, UN Special Rapporteur on the Right to Development  

Surya Deva is a Professor at the Macquarie Law School and Director of the Centre for Environmental Law and B&HR Access to Justice Lab at Macquarie University. Deva is an internationally recognised scholar in the field of business and human rights. He served as a member of the UN Working Group on Business and Human Rights (2016-22). Deva has advised UN agencies, governments, national human rights institutions, multinational corporations, trade unions and civil society organisations on issues related to his expertise.  

Rosemary Lyster, climate justice and disaster law researcher  

Rosemary Lyster is the Co-Theme Lead of the Climate Disaster and Adaptation Research Theme at the Sydney Environment Institute. She is a Professor of Climate and Environmental Law in the University of Sydney Law School and a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Law. In 2024, Rosemary was appointed a member of the Special Rapporteur on the Right to Development's Academic Circle supporting his mandate. Rosemary’s special area of research expertise is Climate Justice and Disaster Law. Her publications include Rosemary Lyster and Robert M. Verchick (eds.) Climate Disaster Law (Edward Elgar: 2018) and Rosemary Lyster Climate Justice and Disaster Law (Cambridge University Press: 2015). Rosemary has been selected by the Australian Financial Review as one of the 2018 '100 Women of Influence' in the Public Policy category.  

David Schlosberg, Director of the Sydney Environment Institute  

David Schlosberg is Professor of Environmental Politics and Director of the Sydney Environment Institute. His work focuses on environmental, ecological, and climate justice; environment and everyday life; and climate adaptation planning and policy. David has worked extensively with local and state governments on just adaptation and resilience planning, the social impacts of climate change, and community-based food systems and policy.