Philippe Sands, QC (Co-chair of the Independent Expert Panel for the Legal Definition of Ecocide) & Tom Burke in conversation with Karla Hill.
A safe, liveable climate is under threat. The rule of law is under attack in many places.
In this conversation, we will explore dimensions of the rule of law and climate change.
What happens to the rule of law in a changing climate? Can we mobilise concern for the climate to protect the rule of law?
Can we use the law to protect the climate? How can the law help secure a safe climate and a fair, resilient transition?
Philippe Sands is Professor of the Public Understanding of Law and Director of the Centre on International Courts and Tribunals at UCL, and was appointed Samuel and Judith Pisar Visiting Professor of Law at Harvard Law School in 2019 and 2021. He is co-chairing the expert drafting panel convened by the Stop Ecocide Foundation on the legal definition of “ecocide” as a potential international crime.
Tom Burke is a co-founder of E3G and chairs its Board. He is Chairman of the China Dialogue Trust, a Trustee of Climate Advisors UK and a Visiting Professor at Imperial and University Colleges, London. Tom was previously Executive Director of Friends of the Earth and Green Alliance and Special Advisor to three Secretaries of State for the Environment from 1991-97.
Karla Hill is Associate Director - Political Economy and Governance at E3G, focused on identifying and enabling the institutions, actions, laws and alliances critical to driving effective, rapid and just global climate action. Previously, Karla was global programmes counsel and director of programmes at ClientEarth, and served on the board of Greener UK.