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Protecting life and vital ecosystems in Guyana & across the planet
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
Humans 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 for themselves and their territories.
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.
Ramon Gaskin v Minister of Natural Resources, Exxon, Hess and CNOOC
Although Mr Gaskin lost his case, the CCJ’s ruling has put public interest litigation on a new and more solid footing. They have established new legal principles on costs, extended liability to Hess and CNOOC, set new standards for transparency and accountability, incorporated international law and more. See the full case for details.
US$7.1 trillion
in government subsidies to the fossil fuel industry in 2022
Over 11 billion barrels
worth of oil found offshore in Guyana
4.3 billion tonnes
of CO2 equivalent would be released by burning that oil
154 million tonnes
of CO2 are captured by Guyana's forest annually
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.
