In these turbulent times, respect for the rule of law and multilateralism is under threat, and tensions are running high. International law on sustainable development, and its crucial contribution to human rights, the natural world and our global economy, has never been more important. Yet, there is a significant gap in law and governance capacity, worldwide, to tackle the world's largest sustainability challenges including rising poverty, climate change and conflict, advancing the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
In these online international legal expert roundtables from the the Centre for International Sustainable Development Law (CISDL), world-renowned jurists, experts, professionals and practitioners gather to discuss emerging obstacles and opportunities to scale up capacity to strengthen and implement sustainable development law, fast, worldwide. In the context of recent findings of international courts and tribunals, including the extraordinary advisory opinions on climate change in the International Tribunal on the Law of the Sea, the Inter-American Court of Human Rights and the International Court of Justice (to be released 23 July), these dialogues aim to enlighten, engage and inspire a global community of teaching and practice in this emerging area.
Draft Programme
16:00-16:05 Welcome and Introductions
Adv Muskaan Singh (Communications Officer, CISDL) & Adv Yuxi Shen (Fellowship Officer, CISDL)
16:05-16:15 Opening: Sustainable Development Law & Governance Research & Education Needs in the Context of Recent Tribunal Decisions
Speakers: Prof Marie-Claire Cordonier Segger WIJA FRSC FRSA (Chair in Sust Dev Law & Policy, Univ Cambridge / Senior Director, CISDL); Prof Damilola Olawuyi SAN WIJA (UNESCO Chair in Enviro Law & Sust Dev, Hamad Bin Khalifa Univ / Snr Fellow, CISDL); Adv Tejas Rao (DemEd Global Research Coord, Univ Cambridge / Senior Manager, CISDL)
16:15-16:50 Roundtable 1: Innovations in Research and Teaching of Sustainable Development Law and Governance
What are the most significant emerging challenges in scaling up research and teaching sustainable development law worldwide? In light of findings by ICJ, IACtHR, ITLOS and other tribunals, what can be done to overcome them, and strengthen capacity to improve and implement international law? How can legal and interdisciplinary research and teaching adapt to address rapidly evolving sustainability crises, emerging legal frameworks and new decisions of courts and tribunals?
Chairs: Prof Emmanuella Doussis (UNESCO Chair in Climate Diplomacy, National & Kapodistrian Univ / Board of Governors, CISDL) & Prof Marie-Claire Cordonier Segger WIJA (Chair in Sust Dev Law & Policy, Univ Cambridge / Senior Director, CISDL)
International Legal Expert Speakers & Intervenors: Prof Megan Bowman (Director, Climate Law and Governance Centre, KCL / Fellow, CISDL); Prof Pamela Towela Sambo (Professor, Univ Zambia / Snr Fellow, CISDL); Prof Markus Gehring (Professor, Univ Cambridge / Lead Counsel, CISDL); Prof Alessandra Lehmen (Professor, Univ Caixas do Sul / President, OAB-RS Enviro Law Commission / Fellow, CISDL); Prof Jorge Cabrera (Professor, Univ Costa Rica / Lead Counsel, CISDL); Prof Diane Desierto (Director, Univ Notre Dame Human Rights Clinic / Fellow, CISDL); Prof Riyad Fahkri (Vice Chair, ASSELLMU / Professor, Univ Hassan 1st); Dr Enas Qutieshat (Law Dean, Sohar Univ); Prof Ted Gleason (Assoc Professor, Grenoble Univ / Assoc Fellow, CISDL); Prof Winfried Huck (Professor, Ostfalia Univ / Senior Fellow, CISDL)
16:50-17:25 Roundtable II: Innovations in Training and Advancing Sustainable Development Law and Governance
What innovative approaches are most effective for training practitioners and policymakers in sustainable development law, especially given recent ICJ and IACtHR advisory opinions? How can legal education and professional training bridge the theory-practice gap while preparing lawyers to represent the interests of future generations in addressing sustainability challenges and advancing the SDGs? Why is collaborative, multi-stakeholder legal and interdisciplinary education and training becoming essential for intergenerational justice, and what examples show promise?
Chairs: Prof Nandini Ramanujam (Professor, McGill Univ / Board of Governors, CISDL)* & Prof Damilola Olawuyi SAN WIJA (UNESCO Chair in Enviro Law & Sust Dev, Hamad Bin Khalifa Univ / Snr Fellow, CISDL)
International Legal Expert Speakers & Intervenors: Prof Justice Marcel Szabo WIJA (Judge, Hungary Constitutional Court / Board of Governors, CISDL)*; Prof Tenia Kyriazi (Dep Dir, Middlesex Univ Dubai / President, ILA UAE); Prof Ilaria Espa (Assoc Prof, Swiss Italian University / Lead Counsel, CISDL); Adv Ayman Cherkaoui (Dep Director, IUCN WCEL / Lead Counsel, CISDL); Adv Douglas Leys QC (Snr Fellow, CISDL / former General Counsel, Green Climate Fund); Adv Lara Douvartzidis (Snr Legal Exec, Net Zero Lawyers Alliance); Dr Walters Nsoh (Assoc Professor, Al Faissal Univ); Adv Emily Morison (Proj Lawyer, Intl Bar Assoc)*; Ms Elianys Martinez (Manager, UNESCO Voices of Future Generations Children’s Rights Initiative); Dr Jennifer Maas (Deloitte / Assoc Fellow, CISDL)
17:25 – 17:40: Further Discussion
17:40 – 17:55: Emerging Global Sustainable Development Law Leadership Opportunities
Chairs: Dr Ashfaq Khalfan (Chair, CISDL Board of Governors / Climate Justice Director, Oxfam) & Adv Tejas Rao (DemEd Global Research Coord, Univ Cambridge / Senior Manager, CISDL)
World-Leading Sustainable Development Law Journals: Mr Eghosa Ekhator (Editor in Chief, Journal of Sustainable Development Law and Policy) & Mr Samuel Anthony (Editor in Chief, McGill Journal of Sustainable Development Law)*
Sustainable Development Governance and Law Association: Adv Matheus Paes Garcia (STILI Manager, CISDL) & Ms Thalsa-Thiziri Mekaouche (Assoc Fellow, CISDL)
Online Companion to the OUP Sustainable Development Law Textbook: Adv Spencer Williams (Ontario Ministry of Attorney General/Assoc Fellow, CISDL) & Ms Annabel Koven (SSPI Coordinator, Global Youth Council on Science Law & Sust)
Democratizing Education for Global Sustainability and Justice: Ms Joanna Watterson (Programme Coordinator, DemEd Global / PhD Researcher, Univ Cambridge) & Adv Carter Cheng (Engagement Coordinator, DemEd Global / PhD Researcher, Univ Cambridge)
17:55 – 18:00: Closing Video