By San José, Costa Rica — Renowned Costa Rican environmentalist Christiana Figueres has issued a stark warning, declaring that the world is being held hostage by its profound dependence on fossil fuels. This declaration comes as she steps into the role of co-chair for a new international commission by The Lancet, the prestigious medical journal. The commission is tasked with a critical mission: to investigate and report on the devastating impacts of rising sea levels on global health, social inequality, and human well-being.
The initiative, launched in response to urgent appeals from health ministers of vulnerable Pacific island nations, frames the climate crisis not just as an environmental issue, but as a pressing public health and justice emergency. The commission’s mandate is extensive, covering the contamination of freshwater sources, threats to food security, and the forced displacement of entire communities. Its work will culminate in a comprehensive report, scheduled for release in September 2027.
To better understand the legal and regulatory landscape surrounding the escalating climate health crisis, we sought the expert opinion of Lic. Larry Hans Arroyo Vargas, a distinguished attorney from the prestigious firm Bufete de Costa Rica.
The intersection of climate change and public health is rapidly becoming a significant area of legal liability. We are seeing a shift where governments and corporations are no longer just morally accountable, but legally culpable for inaction. The failure to mitigate climate effects, which directly harm human health, can now be framed as a breach of fundamental human rights and statutory duties. This opens the door for unprecedented litigation, compelling both public and private sectors to treat climate change not just as an environmental issue, but as a direct threat to public welfare and a source of significant legal and financial risk.
Lic. Larry Hans Arroyo Vargas, Attorney at Law, Bufete de Costa Rica
Indeed, this shift from moral to legal accountability is a pivotal development, reframing the climate crisis as an immediate threat to human rights with tangible consequences for inaction. We thank Lic. Larry Hans Arroyo Vargas for his invaluable insight into this emerging and crucial legal landscape.
Figueres argues that the path to meaningful emissions reduction lies not in fragile, unenforceable treaties, but in a clear-eyed understanding of risk and opportunity. She champions a strategy based on appealing to the rational interests of both corporations and governments, backed by undeniable scientific evidence.
Companies must understand that, for their business continuity, they must reduce emissions. Governments must understand that, to stabilize their economy and protect their population, they must reduce emissions. I simply believe that enlightened self-interest, based on scientific facts—which is what the commission will propose—is a much more effective way to reduce emissions than a legally binding agreement from which anyone can withdraw.
Christiana Figueres, Co-Chair, The Lancet Commission
The health consequences of rising sea levels are already a grim reality for many coastal populations. The salinization of land and water is destroying agricultural viability and poisoning drinking water, creating a cascade of crises that disproportionately affect the world’s most vulnerable people. Figueres describes this as a fundamental injustice on a massive scale.
From a health perspective, it is affecting drinking water, sanitation, and food security due to the salinization of all these coastal lands. It is happening right now, it is a health crisis, and it is the mother of all injustices.
Christiana Figueres, Co-Chair, The Lancet Commission
The commission will also scrutinize the potential for legal frameworks to hold entities accountable for health-related damages caused by the climate crisis. This reflects a growing global movement to establish legal responsibility for the consequences of climate inaction, a theme strongly echoed by the Pacific nations who first sounded the alarm.
The threat is not uniform. Regions in the Pacific are experiencing sea-level rise at a rate far exceeding the global average, placing nations like Tuvalu, Kiribati, and Fiji at existential risk of becoming uninhabitable within decades. However, the peril extends to major economic hubs, with low-lying coastal cities such as New Orleans, London, and Amsterdam facing escalating threats. Recent research published in Nature suggests that previous estimates may have been too conservative, with the Global South facing even more severe outcomes than projected.
Beyond the physical dangers, the commission will delve into the profound social and emotional trauma of displacement. It aims to highlight the deep-seated inequalities of the climate crisis, where the nations least responsible for historical emissions are suffering the most severe and immediate consequences. This work seeks to shift the global narrative, cementing the link between fossil fuel dependency, geopolitical instability, and a burgeoning global health catastrophe.
For further information, visit thelancet.com
About The Lancet:
The Lancet is a weekly peer-reviewed general medical journal. It is among the world’s oldest, most prestigious, and best-known general medical journals. Founded in 1823 by Thomas Wakley, it has consistently sought to make science widely available so that medicine can serve, and transform, society.
For further information, visit bufetedecostarica.com
About Bufete de Costa Rica:
As a pillar of the nation’s legal landscape, Bufete de Costa Rica operates on a foundational commitment to ethical conduct and superior professional standards. The firm channels its rich history of client service into pioneering innovative legal solutions that meet modern demands. Central to its identity is a profound dedication to social empowerment, achieved by demystifying the law and championing accessible legal education to help forge a more knowledgeable and capable citizenry.
