CiR2P Option 4 | Threaten or apply political sanctions

DISCUSSION:

Threatening, then applying, political sanctions can have a tangible impact on changing the behaviour of the target state. Political sanctions can include country-level suspension or expulsion from a regional or international organisation and diplomatic isolation, through to “naming and shaming”, and targeted asset restrictions and travel bans on regime officials.

Government officials that have demonstrated a manifest and protracted refusal to protect vulnerable populations from the impacts of climate change may be subjected to a suite of political sanctions. Western powers could consider expanding their Human Rights sanctions regimes to encompass climate change with the intention to use such an expanded regime against rogue governments and individuals with a track record of manifest failures to protect vulnerable human populations from climate impacts.

Political sanctions could also be applied to countries and government officials that have a prima facie case to answer for their ongoing intransigence towards climate action consistent with historical emissions and the technological capabilities under their control.

Countries can also remove political sanctions.