“There’s Just No More Land”
Community-led Planned Relocation as Last-resort Adaptation to Sea Level Rise in Solomon Islands

People around the world increasingly experience the devastating effects of environmental crises – from extreme weather, food insecurity, and health issues linked to water and air pollution, to the loss of land, biodiversity, and livelihoods. Inadequate regulation and enforcement of environmentally destructive sectors of the economy – including agricultural commodities, mining, and heavily polluting fossil-fuel industries – drives human rights violations. Governments still fall short of urgent and ambitious actions to keep global warming below 1.5 degree Celsius and prevent further devastation to the global environment. The primary victims of environmental harm are often impoverished and marginalized communities with limited opportunity to meaningfully participate in decision-making and public debate on environmental issues, and have little access to independent courts to achieve accountability and redress. Activists and ordinary citizens defending their rights to land and the environment face intimidation, legal harassment, and deadly violence. Human Rights Watch champions human rights law to force governments to protect people and prevent corporations from continuing to cause extreme environmental degradation.
Community-led Planned Relocation as Last-resort Adaptation to Sea Level Rise in Solomon Islands
Lead Waste Mining and Children’s Right to a Healthy Environment in Kabwe, Zambia
United States Human Rights Violations against the Numu/Nuwu and Newe in the Rush for Lithium
Smaller Buffer Zones Would Further Reduce Protection from Exposure
Law 125 of February 4, 2020. Law 6 of 22 January 2002. Executive Decree 57 of 16 March 2000.
Environmental Impact Assessments, Strategic Environmental Impact Assessments and the Right to a Clean, Healthy and Sustainable Environment
Phase Out Fossil Fuels to Improve Global Air Quality
Ensure Rights Protections for Indigenous Peoples
Support Community-Led Planned Relocation; Protect Walande Residents from Climate Impacts
Access to Justice and Effective Remedies in the Context of Toxics
Comprehensive Mine Remediation, End to Hazardous Mining Urgently Needed in Kabwe
Center Indigenous Community Voices
Mine Permitted Without Free, Prior, and Informed Consent