Climate Law and Governance Day 2018
By, Jessica Buttner
Moravian College Class of 2019
On Friday, December 7th I attended a Climate Law and Governance Day hosted by the University of Silesia Katowice, Poland. The event has taken place every year during COP since 2005 and attracts those interested in Climate Law. However, anyone can attend the event and the panelists for each session at the event are from different areas of the world.
Sessions at this event ranged from Risk, Disclosure & Diligence – Levers for Corporate Climate Engagement to Leveraging the Role of National Human Rights Institutions in Climate Policy to Climate Litigation After the IPCC 1.5 Special Report – Engaging Communities, NGOs & Other Stakeholders. The day consisted of a few timeslots with three optional panels, which allowed lawmakers to attend panels of interest. There was an abundance of young people who attended this conference and learning about their goals to help combat climate change was very inspiring! My favorite session was Senior Jurists Plenary III: Negotiating the Global Climate Regime – Legal Challenges & Opportunities under the UNFCCC & Paris Agreement because I had the opportunity to hear the perspectives of those who represent small island states and developing countries. As someone who lives in a first-world country in an area that is not significantly near a coastline, I was not aware of the true realities people face due to climate change.
If you are interested in learning more about this subject, there is a Climate Law & Governance Specialization Course held by the Centre for International Sustainable Development Law (CISDL) online this Sunday, December 9th from 9:30am-2pm. Please click the Eventbrite registration form link below and register as a volunteer for free.
I am happy that you got to attend a law oriented panel. I hope that with this newfound information you will integrate this into your law school journey. Additionally, I liked that you pointed out your own personal biases, as people who are land-locked and in a developed country, sometimes it is hard to envision a different world. There are real risks for developing nations due to climate change and sometimes you just need a shift in perspective to see that. Proud of you!
ReplyDeleteI agree with Kaitlin above. I like how you added in your own opinion on how we in Pennsylvania are "land-locked" and do not see or experience the true impacts of climate change on small islands (such as the Marshall Islands). I am also pleasantly surprised to see that there was a side event that focuses on climate law. I would have never expected to hear about that from the current news outlets. Great to here this perspective!
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