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Protecting life and vital ecosystems in Guyana & beyond
Melinda Janki is the recipient of the 6th Commonwealth Law Conference Rule of Law award. She is an international lawyer opposing dangerous deep sea oil and gas exploitation offshore Guyana.
Stopping these projects is non-negotiable for the ocean, the atmosphere, and life on earth — the stakes couldn’t be higher.
The practice
Challenging
Oil & Gas
Greenhouse gas pollution causes global overheating, climate system breakdown and ocean acidification. Enough is enough. Fossil fuels cost the earth.
Protecting the
natural world
We are part of an intricate natural system. For millennia, the natural world has provided us with: air, water, food and meaning. We must live in harmony with the earth and our more than human companions.
Defending indigenous
& native rights
From Guyana to West Papua and beyond, indigenous and native peoples have the right to self-determination and land ownership
Meet Melinda
Opposing a desperate and reckless fossil fuel industry in Guyana; writing national laws to protect nature and indigenous and local people; and winning victories in landmark court cases.
Court Cases
Browse the case files here for the top-line details. Click through to learn more. View all cases here.
Troy Thomas and Quadad DeFreitas v Attorney-General of Guyana and Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Ltd., 2021
This is the biggest climate change case in the world which could stop around five gigatons of greenhouse gas pollution! Dr Thomas and Mr deFreitas claim that by authorising oil and gas extraction and production, the Government of Guyana is violating their right to a healthy environment as guaranteed by the Constitution.
1.5°C
increase in temperature will cause:
14%
of species to be at a high risk of extinction.
950 Million
people exposed to heat stress, water stress and desertification.
US$63 Billion
in costs for adaptation and residual damage to major crops
Media
German documentaries, American podcasts, Guyanese newspapers; fighting fossil fuels, defending the planet and upholding the rule of law has sparked interest across the globe. Browse publications related to my work below.
Read
Watch
Janki blogs
When time allows, which is occasionally, I write longer format articles. For my fellow Earth dwellers sharing these challenging times, I hope these stories will enliven and enlighten you; for the bad actors among my website visitors, learn to live with love! Please view the full blog index here.
