Pedro Cisterna Gaete
Climate Lawyer|PhD and LLM University of Edinburgh |Climate equity(Law&Policy) Transnational Climate&Environmental law-Property&Urban Law|
- I'm from the Biobío region,where devastating fires happened this weekend. Although Chile has progressed in DDR,still structural constraints(urban informality) define the disasters effect on vulnerable populations.Adapting institutional structures to face these atrocious events is crucial and urgent.
- For clarifying purposes. The US joined the UNFCCC through congressional approval, which means a president cannot simply withdraw through an executive order. The Paris Agreement is different: it was adopted through executive authority, making withdrawal procedurally much easier.
- Just came back to this platform after having some issues with my password. Happy to be here again.
- Bad news from the EU.Regressions from the most climate progressive region on the planet.Highly concerning, especially with Trump in power.Also, the FinancialTimes today published that 79% of solar energy projects globally are taking place in China.What is changing? www.politico.eu/article/cent...
- 1/🧵To my non-Spanish-speaking colleagues: A quick thread on the new Advisory Opinion OC-32/25 from the Inter-American Court of Human Rights (IACtHR) on Climate Emergency and Human Rights. A landmark moment for climate law in Latin America & the Caribbean.👇
- 2/ A. Reinforced due diligence: the new baseline The Court elevates the duty of prevention: States must act with reinforced due diligence on climate risks—guided by the best available science and the urgency of harm. (¶231–238)
- 3/ This reinforced standard also applies to businesses: → Mandatory climate due diligence across value chains → Emissions disclosure → Transition plans → Penalties for greenwashing (¶346–351, 353–354)
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View full thread11/Bottom line: OC-32/25 sets justiciable regional standards, guides future climate-due-diligence laws, and may influence the upcoming ICJ Advisory Opinion. A qualitative leap forward for climate & human rights in Latin America.
- New research in Nature strengthens the case for holding fossil fuel companies accountable for climate-related damages. By Callahan & Mankin, the study links emissions from 111 coal, oil & gas firms to trillions in economic losses from extreme heat. 1/n www.nature.com/articles/s41...
- Direct attribution: The study models the economic damage attributable to each company based on its historical emissions. It’s a rigorous, company-specific approach to climate harm.2/n
- US$28 trillion in losses: Between 1991–2020, emissions from these companies are estimated to have caused over $28 trillion in global economic losses due to intensified heatwaves.
- Legal relevance: The paper provides a strong scientific basis to establish causal links in climate litigation, strengthening legal arguments for damages & reparations.
- Reposted by Pedro Cisterna Gaete“The consequences of these decisions have already extended beyond U.S. borders,” writes @pedrocig.bsky.social. How the U.S. isn’t the only country paying the price for climate denialism 🌏:
- As diverse communities around the world remember the legacy of Pope Francis, I would like to share some insights into one of his most significant legacies, particularly in the realm of climate justice: Laudato Si. 1/n 👇🧵
- The encyclical established that creation care is not optional for Catholics, but essential to their faith. Pope Francis framed ecological concerns as deeply interconnected with social justice, creating a comprehensive "integral ecology" framework that transformed Catholic environmental teaching. 2/n
- Key concept: "Everything is interconnected" - Pope Francis rejected the separation between environmental and social concerns. His insight that climate change, biodiversity loss, pollution & social inequity are manifestations of the same crisis remains his enduring legacy. 3/n
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View full threadIn 2021, Pope Francis launched the Laudato Si' Action Platform—a 7-year initiative for Catholic institutions to implement concrete sustainability goals. This moved his vision from moral teaching to practical action, ensuring his environmental legacy will continue long after his passing. 10/10.
- Reposted by Pedro Cisterna GaeteFor nearly 15 years the US Dept of Interior's Climate Adaptation* Science Centers have supported hundreds of scientists studying how ecosystems respond to climate change & pollution, invasive species, sustainable wildlife & wild lands management, and more. Now the admin wants to cancel them all.
- Thanks for the space @conversationalist.org !
- “Effective climate action requires not only environmental responsibility but also a commitment to global justice, equity, and shared prosperity. The current U.S. approach only undermines these principles...” More by @pedrocig.bsky.social:
- Reposted by Pedro Cisterna Gaete“Effective climate action requires not only environmental responsibility but also a commitment to global justice, equity, and shared prosperity. The current U.S. approach only undermines these principles...” More by @pedrocig.bsky.social:
- Trump is back—and so is climate denialism. In this piece for The Conversationalist , I explore how Trump’s return is impacting global climate efforts ahead of COP30. Read it here: conversationalist.org/2025/04/11/i...
- Interesting litigation development in protecting biodiversity. 👇 www.theguardian.com/environment/...
- The SCOTUS (with dissenting opinions of Judge Alito and Thomas) has allowed climate lawsuits against major Texas oil companies like Exxon and Chevron to proceed. This could set a significant precedent for holding corporations accountable for their role in climate change. apnews.com/article/supr...
- Just for putting things in perspective. Last year at the COP29,developed countries committed to mobilising $300 billion annually by 2035 to support developing nations climate mitigation and adaptation efforts. In one year, the US defence budget tripled the climate finance goal agreed at the COP29.
- The acceleration of climate inaction is a growing concern. Denialism is impacting policies and decisions in the US, potentially influencing other stakeholders to reduce climate ambition in alignment with current directives. www.nature.com/articles/d41...
- Carbon removal is crucial for net zero, but misusing it risks failure. Most 1.5°C pathways need all sustainable CDR for hard-to-abate emissions & overshoot. Yet, it's often used elsewhere, driving up costs. Nice insight in this paper. www.nature.com/articles/s41...
- Reposted by Pedro Cisterna Gaete
- Reposted by Pedro Cisterna Gaete
- Last week, @science.org published two articles on Trump's new presidency: 'Climate Deja vu' on Trump's decision to leave the Paris Agreement. (www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...) 'A world less safe and secure' on Trump's decision to leave the WHO. (www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...) Please,read both.
- Reposted by Pedro Cisterna GaetePresident Trump announced today that he would seek to remove the US from the #ParisAgreement. “Such a move is in clear defiance of scientific realities and shows an administration cruelly indifferent to the harsh climate change impacts that people in the US and around the world are experiencing.”
- Reposted by Pedro Cisterna Gaete11AM: How bad could the new administration be? 4PM: And Elon did that how many times?
- States, local governments, civil society, companies, and communities are essential to implementing the Paris Agreement. When federal leadership is absent, these stakeholders must and will step up and lead the way.
- Tomorrow starts 4 complex years of resistance against the power of those who want to destroy ecosystems, the climate, human rights, international law, and democracy.
- This insightful paper proposes a theoretical framework examining how aversion to disadvantageous inequality weakens motivation for climate cooperation across the broader population. Climate decisions and policies require considering climate equity. www.nature.com/articles/s44...
- It's been a while since I last posted here. This year, I’m looking forward to continuing discussions on climate change, particularly around climate law, climate equity, corporate net-zero targets, and urban climate action.
- Reposted by Pedro Cisterna GaetePleased to say that my article on #COP29 has just been published by the Law Society of Scotland: tinyurl.com/dpd4jbws. I take a pretty dim view of the proceedings. Do tell me where I got it wrong!
- After the first week of state submissions to the ICJ on the climate change advisory opinion, key tensions between developed and developing countries arised. Here’s a breakdown of some of the issues: 🧵
- 1️⃣ Prevention of Harm Rule. Developing countries argue for the application of the customary international law principle of preventing transboundary harm in relation to emissions. Developed countries push back on that, arguing stricter application of the rule.
- 2️⃣ Nature of Obligations. Developing nations advocate that the nature of prevention of harm is of conduct (taking reasonable measures) and of result (achieving specific outcomes), emphasizing historical responsibility.
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View full thread5️⃣ Investment Law & Right to Regulate Developing states link the advisory opinion to their right to regulate without paying compensation to foreign companies from developed countries, resisting constraints imposed by investment law.
- The oral submissions made by countries this week to the ICJ regarding the advisory opinion on climate change are inspiring. This historic and unique procedure deserves much more media attention than it currently receives.
- Next week, the ICJ begins hearings on the advisory opinion on climate change. While expectations are tempered—given the ICJ's traditionally cautious approach—it will be relevant to see the positions countries present in comparison with their COP29 stances on,for instance,climate finance.
