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Alexandra Phelan @alexandraphelan.bsky.social · 10d

Tomorrow! Friday, 11:00-12:30 CET at the Planetary Health Annual Meeting #PHAM

An unparalleled stellar panel of Planetary Health Law, Governance & Policy experts!

Our discussion will explore how law is empowering Planetary Health, from national litigation to reshaping global governance.

Image shows details for a panel "Planetary Health Law: Legal Innovations for a Thriving Planet" at the Planetary Health Annual Meeting on 10 October at 11:00 in Rotterdam, The Netherlands. The image has photos of each of the panelists, including Michele Goodwin, Arpitha Kodivari, Marlies Hesselman, Eric Ip, and David Patterson, moderated by Alexandra Phelan

Alexandra Phelan @alexandraphelan.bsky.social · 11d

For more than three decades, @UNDP.org Human Development Reports have sought to improve human lives, opportunities, and freedoms by creating environments for people to develop their full potential and well-being.

Find out more here: hdr.undp.org

Home | Human Development Reports

hdr.undp.org

Alexandra Phelan @alexandraphelan.bsky.social · 11d

This week in The Hague, I was delighted to participate in @undp.org's consultation on the 2026 Human Development Report, exploring the potential of international law, global governance & Planetary Health.

With thanks to UNDP, Georgetown's Earth Commons & Sunway Centre for Planetary Health.

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Alexandra Phelan @alexandraphelan.bsky.social · 25d

WHO Director-General @drtedros.who.int ends the UN General Assembly event on Global Health pointing to the adoption of the Pandemic Agreement: "Multilateralism is alive and well despite the noise, so that gives me hope... This is an international treaty that all Member States have agreed to move on"

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Alexandra Phelan @alexandraphelan.bsky.social · 25d

An incredible advancement with Huntington’s disease successfully treated for the first time, slowing disease progression by 75%.

The treatment use gene therapy and gene silencing technologies to reduce levels of the protein permanently, in a single dose.

www.bbc.com/news/article...

Huntington's disease successfully treated for first time

One of the most devastating diseases finally has a treatment that can slow its progression and transform lives, tearful doctors tell BBC.

www.bbc.com

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Reposted by Alexandra Phelan

HELLody SchreiBOO @melodyschreiber.com · Sep 15

FYI, some people reject this term because their relationship is not discordant. One couple I interviewed preferred the term "magnetic couple" -- because she's positive and he's negative

NPR @npr.org · Sep 14

They're called "serodiscordant" couples. One is HIV positive, the other negative. Aid from the U.S. enabled them to obtain medicines and condoms for protection — until this year.

Love, drugs and condoms: Couples with different HIV status face a new reality

They're called "serodiscordant" couples. One is HIV positive, the other negative. Aid from the U.S. enabled them to obtain medicines and condoms for protection — until this year.

n.pr

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Alexandra Phelan @alexandraphelan.bsky.social · Sep 4

DRC health authorities have sadly declared an outbreak of Ebola in Kasai Province. Sample testing confirms Ebola Zaire.

At 4 Sept 2025:
- 28 suspected cases
- 15 deaths, including 4 health workers

DRC has significant expertise with Ebola and 2000 vaccine doses.
www.afro.who.int/countries/de...

Democratic Republic of the Congo declares Ebola virus disease outbreak in Kasai Province

Kinshasa – Health authorities in the Democratic Republic of the Congo have declared an outbreak of Ebola virus disease in Kasai Province where 28 suspected cases and 15 deaths, including four health w...

www.afro.who.int

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Alexandra Phelan @alexandraphelan.bsky.social · Aug 29

It has been wonderful working on this issue in recent years with brilliant colleagues @gostin.bsky.social, @benjaminmasonmeier.bsky.social, Farhang Tahzib, Marlies Hesselman & David Patterson.

The ICJ Advisory Opinion: a legal mandate for planetary health

On July 23, 2025, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) issued its landmark Advisory Opinion on the obligations of states under international law to prevent and respond to climate change and its ha...

www.thelancet.com

Alexandra Phelan @alexandraphelan.bsky.social · Aug 29

"There will be challenges in securing the required policy and budgetary changes in states with anti-science and contumacious leaders...However, with this [ICJ Advisory] Opinion we are each empowered to hold our political leaders accountable under law and to demand change across the whole of society"

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Alexandra Phelan @alexandraphelan.bsky.social · Aug 29

We highlight the centrality of health and the WHO's submissions in the Court's assessment, as well as the role of independent scientific synthesis assessments.

We consider the implications of these findings for other governance bodies into the future.

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Alexandra Phelan @alexandraphelan.bsky.social · Aug 29

We identify the critical aspects of the ICJ's opinion for global health and human rights, including landmark clarity on the nature of obligations under international treaties including the UNFCCC, Paris Agreement, and international human rights law, as well as under customary international law.

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Alexandra Phelan @alexandraphelan.bsky.social · Aug 29

Today in @thelancet.com we examine the importance of the recent ICJ Advisory Opinion in using law to protect health and human rights in the face of the planetary crisis.

Link: www.thelancet.com/journals/lan...

The ICJ Advisory Opinion: a legal mandate for planetary health

On July 23, 2025, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) issued its landmark Advisory Opinion on the obligations of states under international law to prevent and respond to climate change and its ha...

www.thelancet.com

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Alexandra Phelan @alexandraphelan.bsky.social · Jul 23

What are you doing @broadinstitute.org & @statnews.com?

This demonstrates a glaring lack of insight and self-awareness at best, and completely undermines the purported goal of the event, Women's Health.

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Alexandra Phelan @alexandraphelan.bsky.social · Jul 23

shorthand shakespeare: "I will bite my thumb at them,
which is a disgrace to them, if they bear it."

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Alexandra Phelan @alexandraphelan.bsky.social · Jul 23

The full text of the ICJ Advisory Opinion is available now:

www.icj-cij.org/sites/defaul...

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Alexandra Phelan @alexandraphelan.bsky.social · Jul 23

The ICJ Advisory Opinion on State Obligations with Respect to Climate Change is significant.

It provides clarity and removes many common uncertainties around the nature of obligations under international law to act to prevent harm from climate change.

Live details here:

Alexandra Phelan @alexandraphelan.bsky.social · Jul 23

The ICJ Advisory Opinion on Obligations of States in respect of Climate Change livestream has begun.

The Court begins by concluding that the questions put to it are legal in nature and that it has jurisdiction to provide an Advisory Opinion.

(1/n)

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Alexandra Phelan @alexandraphelan.bsky.social · Jul 23

4c) full reparation in the form of restitution, compensation and satisfaction provided that the general conditions can be met, including causation.

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Alexandra Phelan @alexandraphelan.bsky.social · Jul 23

4) a breach of obligations above constitutes an internationally wrongful act. consequences may include:
4a) cessation of wrongful acts or omissions
4b) providing assurances and guarantees of non reputation

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Alexandra Phelan @alexandraphelan.bsky.social · Jul 23

3e) States have obligations under human rights law by taking measures to protect climate system

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Alexandra Phelan @alexandraphelan.bsky.social · Jul 23

3c) unanimously, Parties to the Ozone Layer Convention and Montreal Protocol, CBD, Desertification convention have obligations to ensure protection of the climate system and environment from GHGs

3d) unanimously, Parties to UNCLOS have obligations for marine environment

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Alexandra Phelan @alexandraphelan.bsky.social · Jul 23

b) states have duty to cooperate with each otehr in good faith to prevent significant harm to the climate system requiring sustained and continuous cooperation

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Alexandra Phelan @alexandraphelan.bsky.social · Jul 23

3b) unanimously, customary international law sets forth obligations to ensure protection of the climate system and the environment
a) states have duty to prevent significant harm to the environment in relation to their activities

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Alexandra Phelan @alexandraphelan.bsky.social · Jul 23

f) Paris parties have obligations for successive ambitious NDCs to meet 1.5ºC goal
g) Paris parties have obligation pursue measures set out in NDCs
h) Paris parties have obligations of adaptation and cooperation, including technology and financial transfers

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Alexandra Phelan @alexandraphelan.bsky.social · Jul 23

c) UNFCCC parties have a duty to cooperate with each other to achieve the underlying objective
d) Kyoto parties must comply
e) Paris parties must act with due diligence in taking measures in accordance with CBDR&RC capable of making adequate contribution of achieving 1.5º

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Alexandra Phelan @alexandraphelan.bsky.social · Jul 23

3. as regards QA:
a) unanimously of the opinion that the climate treaties set forth binding obligations to states parties to ensure protection of the climate system from anthropogenic GHGs inc
a) UNFCCC parties to take measures to mitigate and adapt
b) Annex 1 parties have additional obligations

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