Posts Tagged ‘environmental’

  1. Environmental law conference – Sustainable Cities, Trump and Brexit

    June 28, 2017 by Elisabeth

    7 – 9 July 2017, University of Nottingham: International experts join the 2017 UKELA (UK Environmental Law Association) annual conference to raise awareness of legal challenges and opportunities for protecting the environment.

    The month after the US drew out of the Paris Accord on climate change, the conference will hear from Seth Davis, Chair of the American Bar Association’s Section of Environment, Energy, and Resources.

    Seth Davis says: “Where the federal government shrinks from enforcement, state and local governments and the public itself must be prepared to step into the breach. We must defend absolutely the rule of law. This responsibility is both individual and collective.”

    The conference is organised by UKELA (UK Environmental Law Association), the charity which aims to improve understanding of environmental law for the sake of a better environment.

    “The conference is a must for anyone interested in environmental law,” says UKELA Director, Linda Farrow. “We are delighted that top legal minds are joining us to share their expertise. By improving understanding, we can make the law work for a better environment.”

    The charity’s president is leading environmental lawyer, and Supreme Court Justice, Lord Carnwath. One of the eleven judges in the Miller vs  Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union case, Lord Carnwarth will chair a report from the charity’s Brexit Task Force examining how leaving the EU offers both challenge and scope to use UK law to improve the environment.

    The conference’s three plenaries will focus on sustainable cities and the law. With over half the global population living in urban areas, legal practitioners need to understand how environmental laws can improve a city’s health and sustainability.

    The keynote speaker is Dr Alfonso Vegara – world-renowned for his work on the evolution of cities. Experts including the legislation leader from UN-Habitat (mandated by UN to promote sustainable towns) will share their learning, while delegates will gain the tools – best practice, and legal and regulatory mechanisms – for making UK cities more sustainable.

    Delegates will be able to gain 7.5 of their Continuing Professional Development (CPD) points for one year by attending the three plenaries which address 1) the global role of cities and city governance particularly in relation to climate change 2) UK-based legal and regulatory mechanisms for sustainable cities and 3) environmental issues in cities, with emphasis on air quality, water management and biodiversity.

    There will be networking opportunities including a quiz, music, wine tour, gala dinner and a guided walk in the Attenborough Nature Reserve.

    Media passes and speaker interviews may be arranged on request to elisabeth.winkler @ yahoo.co.uk

     

    Notes to editors

    1. UKELA  (UK Environmental Law Association) is the UK charity which aims to make the law work for a better environment and to improve understanding and awareness of environmental law. Membership is open for anyone interested in environmental law. UKELA also supports the Environmental Law website for the public in Plain English.
    2. The full UKELA conference programme is available here.
    3. Shortly after Trump’s announcement to withdraw from the Paris Accord, “the governors of California, New York, and Washington founded the United States Climate Alliance to continue to advance the objectives of the Paris Agreement despite the withdrawal; similar sentiment has also been expressed by other state governors, mayors, and businesses,” according to Wikipedia
    4. Friday morning pre-conference walk from the Attenborough Nature Reserve is free but booking is required
    5. Conference proceedings will be published after the event by Law Text in a special edition of Environmental Law and Management (ELM). This is free to delegates.