Suriname’s offshore oil ambitions: navigating human rights, climate change commitments and the risk of ecocide

Abstract

As significant offshore oil reserves have been found which will be exploited in 2028, Suriname stands at a crossroads in its, and the world’s, economic and environmental future. Suriname has low carbon dioxide emissions which have allowed it to maintain its very rare status as a carbon-negative country. However, now it is emerging as a key player in the oil and gas industry. With this come great environmental as well as social risks, raising questions about environmental governance and legal accountability. In order to build in safeguards to prevent grave environmental harm, this article explores what legal and participatory frameworks (especially concerning social and environmental impact assessments and public participation) must be developed to ensure that offshore oil extraction supports sustainable development rather than causing irreversible ecological harm. In order to answer this question, this article draws on the landmark Saramaka judgment from the Inter-American Court of Human Rights and uses the emerging legal concept of ecocide to fill in the remaining gap, thereby arguing for robust environmental governance to prevent destructive outcomes.