The International Rights of Nature Tribunal has conducted several hearings on fossil fuel activities and false solutions to the climate crisis, including sessions in Quito, Lima, Paris, Bonn, and Glasgow.

Throughout these Tribunals, the reality of climate change has manifested in numerous ways: extreme weather, wildfires, droughts, floods, hurricanes, and their profound impacts on society and Nature cannot be ignored. Despite this, insufficient action is being taken, as evidenced by the projected 110% increase in fossil fuel production by 2030, far exceeding the levels needed to limit warming to 1.5°C.

Recognized as a prominent international platform for climate stakeholders, the International Rights of Nature Tribunal will leverage the platform of Climate Week New York to amplify its message and advocate for the Rights of Nature, calling for genuine solutions to the climate crisis. The Tribunal hearing will highlight the fossil fuel industry’s ongoing impacts on frontline communities in the U.S. and worldwide, including ecological destruction and exacerbation of the climate crisis. It will specifically examine the industry’s devastating effects on biodiversity and BIPOC communities.

During COP28 in Dubai, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres emphasized the urgent need to phase out fossil fuels to avoid climate catastrophe and meet Paris Agreement goals. “We cannot save a burning planet with a firehose of fossil fuels,” Guterres said. “The 1.5-degree limit is only possible if we ultimately stop burning all fossil fuels. Not reduce. Not abate.” However, no clear red lines were established to prevent the development of new fossil fuel projects or to address the corporate capture of regulatory institutions by the fossil fuel industry.

The Tribunal will feature case presentations, expert panels, and deliberation sessions open to public and media engagement.