Introduction

The CCLSG is the principal source of legal technical advice to the IUCN, its members, and the WCEL on legal aspects of addressing climate change and its adverse impacts internationally and nationally. In carrying out its work, the CCLSG seeks to interact, collaborate, and coordinate with other WCEL Specialist Groups with respect to legal issues relevant to climate change.

Goals of the Specialist Group

• Expanding the understanding of the role of judicial and quasi-judicial avenues in climate change-related issues such as recourse to courts, compliance mechanisms, and dispute settlement
•  Identifying legal challenges and opportunities facing islands in their climate change mitigation and adaptation policies
•  Exploring how nature-based solutions can be developed to combat climate change with a particular emphasis on the role of law in providing safeguards in order for NbS not to lead to unintended consequences
•  Assessing legal and regulatory enablers in the use of technology in dealing with climate change
•  Providing climate law professionals, experts and researchers a common space for discussion and to meet colleagues working in the field of climate change law.

Projects of the Specialist Group

The CCLSG is currently working on four main projects, as approved by the WCEL Steering Committee:

1. Fighting climate change: A best practice guide for judges and courts (2019-2024)
   Project Coordinator: Margaretha Wewerinke-Singh and Sarah Mead
2. Islands and climate change (2022-2024)
   Project Coordinator: Francesco Sindico and TBC
3. Legal pathways to net-zero GHG emissions and nature-based solutions (2022-2024)
   Project Coordinator: Fabiano de Andrade Correa and Kristin Meyer
4. Enabling legal environment for emerging technologies to support climate action (2022-2024)
   Project coordinators: Stephen Minas and Fabiano de Andrade Correa 
5. Climate Law Network (2022-2024)

Project coordinators: Francesco Sindico and Fabiano de Andrade Correa (with the support of Aditi Sheyte and Manon Rouby)

For more information on a specific project and its milestones, please contact the respective Project Coordinator!

Contact Information

The IUCN WCEL Climate Change Law Specialist Group is a global network of legal practitioners and scholars, with connections to experts from various disciplines, and is seeking to engage its members.

We are always looking for new ideas, new partnerships, and assistance as we unpack and execute our body of work. If you are interested in CCLSG membership, have any doubts, or would like to propose a project or partnership, please contact us here.