Oslo (3rd) International Conference on Environmental Law

“The Transformative Power of Law: Meeting Global Environmental Challenges”

University of Oslo, Faculty of Law, Karl Johans gate 25, Oslo, Norway October 3-6, 2022

IUCN’s Global Commission on Environmental Law hosted a conference at the University of Oslo to reflect on the importance of law for the critical decade. The year 2022 marks several important anniversaries in the development of environmental law: the 50th anniversary of the Stockholm Declaration on the Human Environment and the establishment of UNEP in 1972, the 40th anniversary of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, and the 30th anniversary of the Rio Declaration on Environment and Development and the Rio Conventions.

These anniversaries are an opportune time to reflect on the power of law in bringing about the transformative changes needed to address the environmental crises of climate change, destruction of nature and pollution. The Normandy Chair for Peace is delighted that several members of its scientific committee such as Parvez Hassan, Chair Emeritus, IUCN WCEL and Prof. Agnes Michelot, University of La Rochelle. As well as its Chair Emeritus Prof. Nicholas Robinson, Pace University and the general coordinator of the Chair, Emilie Gaillard, participated throughout the three days of conferences.

As well, the Chair’s research line directors such as Prof. Michel Prieur, President of the International Centre for Comparative Environmental Law, Cristiane Derani, Deputy Chair of the WCEL Ethics Specialist Group and David Forman, Director of the Environmental Law Program at the University of Hawaii, Richardson School of Law.

This massive presence of a delegation from the Normandy Chair of Excellence for Peace was reinforced by the presence of experts who participated in international colloquia (INTERNATIONAL SYMPOSIUM ON ENVIRONMENTAL LAW) and in events such as the Chair’s 2022 summer school.

Among these are:

• Prof. Christina Voigt, Chair of the IUCN World Commission on Environmental Law (WCEL).
• Judge Antonio Benjamin, High Court of Justice of Brazil.
• Ivano Alogna, “The circulation of legal models as a transformative approach in the environmental field: the evolution of climate law and litigation”.
• Donald Kaniaru, former Director of UNEP’s Legal Division.
• Shirleen Chin, “Inclusivity in advocacy and law to support timely climate/environmental action.”
• Montserrat Abad Castelos, “The Demands of Public Conscience as a Basis for Preventing Scorched Earth Tactics: Is it possible to make this call more effective than it has been so far?”
• Prof. Tarini Mehta, University Jindal, India
• Amos Chiya and Prof. Koh Kheng Lian, “Music and Culture in Promoting the Implementation of Environmental Laws” (online)
• Justice Michael Wilson, Hawaii Supreme Court.
• Prof. Nilufer Oral, National University of Singapore (online).
• Kathryn Gwiazdon, Chair of the CMEL Ethics Specialist Group.
• Rose-Liza Eisma Osorio, President of the IUCN Academy of Environmental Law

Thus, this international conference on environmental law demonstrates the importance of the work carried out within each line of research related to the environment, future generations and peace with the earth.