WCEL was well represented at the ​​26th Session of the Conference of the Parties to the UNFCCC (COP26) in Glasgow, Scotland (UK). Prior to the COP, WCEL partnered with the Center for International Sustainable Development Law (CISDL) to host a two-day academic law and policy conference Climate Change, the SDGs and the Law at the University of Cambridge. The event explored, among other topics, advancing Paris Agreement innovations in international law.

On Friday 5 November, WCEL participated in the Climate Law and Governance Day 2021. This was the major academic and policy law focused side event of COP26 and was held in cooperation with the University of Cambridge, the University of Glasgow and the University of Strathclyde under the auspices of the Climate Law and Governance Initiative (CLGI).

Climate Change Legislation, Litigation and the Rule of Law was another, whole-day event co-organized with the Strathclyde Centre for Environmental Law & Governance (SCELG), WCEL launched its project of a “Handbook on Climate Litigation”, spearheaded by WCEL members Margaretha Wewerinke-Singh and Sarah Mead.

Additionally, IUCN-WCEL organized the side event The Paris Agreement Rulebook: What can COP26 Deliver?, which focused on legal aspects of nature-based solutions and was held at the Nature Pavilion. This event also served as an opportunity to introduce the new team leading the WCEL’s Climate Change Law Specialist Group (CCLSG).

During “Looking at the Law: a Window of Opportunity” WCEL contributed to a panel discussion between judges on the environmental rule of law. This dialogue was held together with the Global Judicial Institute on the Environment (GJIE), the Grantham Research Institute on Climate Change and the Environment (LSE) and Climate Champions.

Other events which WCEL joined were the Event on youth, innovation and climate change education (held at the Moroccan Pavilion), the Major Economies Business Forum virtual Business Dialogue and an introductory event held by the Paris Agreement Implementation and Compliance Committee (PAICC).

For more information about these and other events, please visit the COP26 webpage.