News | 27 Nov, 2023
New report on High Seas Biodiversity Treaty gives accessible at-a-glance introduction
This introductory report's target audience is professionals from governments, civil society, private sector, and other stakeholders who know multilateral processes and treaties but are not high seas “BBNJ (biodiversity beyond national jurisdiction) experts”. The report is more digestible than…
Story | 19 Jul, 2021
WCEL Hosts Inter-American Environmental Law Congress
By WCEL Deputy Chair Nicholas Bryner - On Thursday, July 8, and Friday, July 9, participants from around the world gathered in Mexico City and online for the Inter-American Environmental Law Congress, organized by the IUCN World Commission on Environmental Law (WCEL) in collaboration with the…
Story | 01 Jun, 2020
United States Supreme Court Clarifies Scope of the Clean Water Act
By David M. Forman - In County of Maui, Hawaii v. Hawaii Wildlife Fund et. al., the United States Supreme Court upheld the legislative intent of the Clean Water Act, and announced that polluters must obtain a permit both for the direct discharge of a pollutant into a waterway, as well as the “…
Story | 12 May, 2020
All Lawyers Need to Provide Climate-Competent Representations
By Warren G. Lavey - Clients and societies require lawyers throughout practice areas, not just environmental specialists, to apply knowledge of climate conditions and legal frameworks. Law schools and bar associations should mainstream climate-competency training.
Story | 07 May, 2020
WCEL Releases 5 New Videos for Lecture Series Featuring Global Experts in Environmental Law
The WCEL video lecture series provides a valuable online resource for WCEL members and partners.
Story | 01 Apr, 2020
By Denise Antolini - Judges and experts from around the world gathered in Hawaiʻi to discuss the role of judges in interpreting and developing the Environmental Rule of Law.
Story | 16 Sep, 2019
Combating Illegal Trade and Unsustainable Use of Sea Turtles at the CITES COP18
By Claire Saladin - Migratory sea turtles are suffering from an unprecedented decline. Interdisciplinary connections and analysis are aiming at improving the international cooperation between Multilateral Environmental Agreements, mitigating and opposing overexploitation and legal gaps…
Story | 16 Jul, 2019
US Courts Face the Climate Crisis: The Role of Judges in Climate Litigation
By Denise Antolini - United States District Court Magistrate Judge Thomas Coffin (retired) shares his views on the critical role judges play in climate litigation in his new essay “American Courts in Climate Emergency”.
Story | 25 Jun, 2019
U.S. Appellate Court Hears Oral Arguments for Groundbreaking Climate Change Case
By Miranda Steed - On 4 June 2019, a three judge panel for the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals heard oral arguments for the youth climate case in a packed courtroom in Portland, Oregon, USA.
Story | 17 Oct, 2018
Professor Nicholas A. Robinson receives prestigious environmental law award
WCEL Chair Emeritus Nicholas A. Robinson received the American Bar Association Section of Environment, Energy, and Resources (SEER) 2018 Distinguished Achievement in Environmental Law and Policy Award.