by Curlan Campbell
- Hoschtialek attended COP27 in November 2022
- Hoschtialek and father Johann, are founders of 195in365
- Address referred to effects of climate change on small islands like Grenada
Grenadian Climate Activist Jovana Hoschtialek addressed several issues regarding the effects of climate change on her small island nation before the Inter-American Court of Human Rights (IACHR), during its 166th Regular Session on Wednesday, 24 April 2024.
The St George’s Institute’s teacher joined youth activists from around the world to present at a public hearing before 6 penal judges led by Judge Ricardo Perez Manrique.
The event on Monday, 22 April 2024, took place at The University of the West Indies (The UWI) at Cave Hill, Barbados began with an opening ceremony marking a week of activities aimed at establishing a dialogue between the court and the international community regarding human rights and the climate crisis.
Hoschtialek, an attendee at COP27 in November 2022, addressed the court, and her almost 4-minute address echoed the dire state of climate change and its effects on small islands like Grenada, including issues of the sea level rise, carbon emissions, water scarcity and soaring temperatures. Following her address, Hoschtialek said, “I also had an experience that was very nerve-wracking but also very awe-inspiring, seeing how many organisations there are pushing for the same thing that we are trying to do — climate justice and innovative ways of trying to get more policy change is incredible.”
Hoschtialek, with her father Johann, 195in365 — a youth-led global environmental initiative that advocates for global action on issues related to climate change. She said the feedback stemming from the court hearing has given her even more courage to pursue her vision. “The feedback on the presentation was really good, especially from the judges… We’re really happy to see that youth are there to allow the voices of other youth to be heard.”
Among the points raised by Hoschtialek was the need to promote global volunteerism in the fight for climate justice. In Grenada, she said that her work continues to involve more young people through her organisation. “I want to do my best to get the youth more involved in environmental activities and empower more of us to go out and save their peace on what they’re experiencing and ask the world to make a change for the betterment of their lives and future children’s lives.”
The IACHR concludes on Friday, 26 April 2024, and will hear the pleadings and arguments of 64 intervenors including those from Barbados, Chile and Colombia.
On Wednesday, Barbados’ Director General of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade Ambassador Donna Forde noted that climate change is having economic, cultural and environmental impacts on the island.
According to Barbados Today, Robert Volterra, who has been the government’s international legal consultant for a long time, argued that the American Convention imposes certain obligations on the states. These obligations include the responsibility to reduce the impact of climate change, adapt to its effects, provide individual remedies, and provide restitution to those states that did not contribute to climate change if the conduct of a state contributed to it.
The IACHR is examining the links between climate change and human rights obligations under the American Convention on Human Rights. The hearing will continue with a second round next month in Brazil.
