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Abstract

The convergence of the global climate crisis, pursuant to the UNFCCC Paris Agreement and its implementing protocols as well as the fundamental right to housing has fundamentally disrupted established legal paradigms, necessitating a rigorous re-examination of the normative status of state obligations. This paper examines the scope of governmental responsibility to mitigate climate-induced threats to housing security. Drawing upon international human rights frameworks and contemporary legal discourse, the study interrogates the complex friction emerging at the intersection of environmental mandates and housing protections. Through a systematic analysis of the existing literature and recent developments in the international climate change framework, including the 2025 ICJ Advisory Opinion on Obligations of States in Respect of Climate Change, this research exposes the evolving legal landscape that mandates state duties and responsibilities. Specifically, it addresses the nuanced and profound challenges faced by states as they attempt to reconcile aggressive climate mitigation strategies with treaties' concurrent duty to preserve housing stability. Ultimately, this paper clarifies these competing normative demands and urges scholars and policymakers to move beyond fragmented approaches. It argues that ensuring environmental integrity and upholding human dignity through equitable housing rights are not mutually exclusive but rather deeply interdependent imperatives requiring a unified legal strategy.

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