Challenges regarding climate change are complex and present a number of new legal challenges. To fulfil the goals of the Paris Agreement, society and the economy must change profoundly. The law is a central tool for putting such system changes in place. At the same time, possible solutions to the climate challenges and their consequences raise a wide range of legal questions.
The subject group will be at the forefront of discourse and research on these topics, and establish an environment with room for a lively and diverse debate. We want to provide a space for the exchange of legal views, further research around these topics and link to the student community for discussion and exchange about current events or developments such as, for example, the role of (national and international) courts, climate lawsuits, impact assessment for petroleum activities, responsibility of private actors, responsibility for exported greenhouse gas emissions (extraterritorial emissions), human rights, generational justice, children's rights to a safe environment, etc.
Activity
We already have a good but scattered research environment at the faculty. The subject group wants to bring the resource persons together and increase the visibility of the environment, as well as contact with the students.
The group will hold regular debate meetings on current issues to increase awareness of climate law and to keep each other up to date on legal developments. Once a year, a larger forum will be organized to put the subject group on the international agenda and to increase the knowledge base.
The subject group will work for the inclusion of climate legal considerations in relevant subjects at the faculty.
Members
Primary members:
- Christina Voigt, Professor, Department of Public and International Law, chair
- Ole Kristian Fauchald, Professor, Department of Public and International Law
- Elsabe Boshoff, PhD cand., Norwegian Center for Human Rights
- Catherine Banet, Professor, Scandinavian Institute of Maritime Law
Associate members:
- Inger Johanne Sand, Prof. emerita (from 1.1.2023), Department of Public and International Law,
- Rosa Manzo, Associate professor, USN
- Hans Christian Bugge, Prof. emeritus Department of Public and International Law
- Kirsten Sandberg, Professor, Department of Public and International Law,
- Gentian Zyberi, Professor, Norwegian Center for Human Rights
Membership is open to students, academic staff and administrative staff at the faculty. Please contact Prof. Christina Voigt if you wish to join the group.
Duration
The group will be active for three years, starting 1 August 2022.