Author
Dr Mac Thi Hoai Thuong
Organisation/Institution
Hanoi Law University
Country
VIETNAM
Panel
Environmental Law
Title
CLIMATE JUSTICE AND DISPROPORTIONAL IMPACT OF CLIMATE CHANGE ON VULNERABLE COMMUNITIES: AN APPROACH FROM INTERNATIONAL LEGAL PERSPECTIVES AND ASEAN COUNTRIES
Abstract
Abstract: Climate change, a global challenge, poses a serious issue of climate justice, especially for vulnerable groups, such as the poor, women, children, ethnic minorities, indigenous peoples and residents in the areas directly affected by natural disasters, sea level rise, droughts and floods. Despite making the least contribution to global greenhouse gas emissions, they suffer the most severe consequences, including losing their livelihoods, limited coping resources, and a high risk of social inequality. With disadvantaged economic conditions, unsafe living environments, and limited access to services, they face many obstacles in climate adaptation. Therefore, it is necessary to ensure climate justice and consider it a key principle in global and national governance. This article analyses the international legal framework on climate justice and human rights to indicate that, despite the progress in protecting the rights of vulnerable groups, many regulations remain non-binding and lack a clear definition of responsibilities among member states. This limitation is disadvantageous for developing countries, including Vietnam, when international financial and technological support is merely advisory, unstable, and insufficient for effective implementation. Research on policies and practices in Vietnam and other ASEAN countries shows significant progress has been achieved, including the issuance of the National Strategy on Climate Change, the integration of social equity into poverty-reduction and sustainable development policies, expanded international cooperation, and improved governance capacity. However, financial and technological limitations, as well as the gap between regulations and enforcement, remain significant challenges for Vietnam. Therefore, it is necessary to improve the international legal framework with a binding and fair mechanism of responsibility allocation and internalize international commitments to protect vulnerable groups and promote sustainable development effectively. Keywords: climate change, climate justice, vulnerable groups, international law, sustainable development
Biography
Dr. Mac Thi Hoai Thuong is a senior lecturer and legal scholar at Hanoi Law University, Vietnam, with more than 15 years of teaching and research experience in public international law, human rights law, treaty law, and citizenship. She obtained her Ph.D. in International Law from Hanoi Law University in 2018, having served on the faculty since 2009. Her academic and professional work examines the intersections of international law and human rights, with a particular emphasis on treaty interpretation, environmental governance, nuclear safety, and the protection of vulnerable groups. Dr. Thuong has acted as a legal expert and lead researcher for numerous projects supported by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the European Union (EU), and other international partners, especially in the fields of ICCPR implementation, women’s rights, and international human rights monitoring in Vietnam. She has presented her research at major academic conferences in India, Nepal, Korea, Singapore, and Thailand, and has published extensively in peer-reviewed journals, including SCOPUS-indexed outlets. In addition to her role at Hanoi Law University, Dr. Thuong frequently serves as a visiting lecturer at the Vietnam Court Academy, the Academy of Journalism and Communication, and the University of Culture in Hanoi. Her current research interests focus on the right to development, climate justice, and the human rights implications of the energy transition in Southeast Asia.
