The 2024 Online Global Symposium, “The Natural World, the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and the Law” is available for viewing. Chaired by Hon. Elizabeth Maruma Mrema, Assistant Secretary-General of the United Nations and Deputy Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Programme, alongside Professor Marie-Claire Cordonier Segger, Senior Director of the Centre for International Sustainable Development Law and Chair in Sustainable Development Law and Policy at the University of Cambridge, inspiring keynotes and substantive plenaries are available to watch now, providing insights and understanding of recent legal developments and emerging trends!
The opening keynote is delivered by Dr. Grethel Aguilar, Director-General of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). Dr. Aguilar’s address highlights the critical importance of the Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF) and the integral role of law in advancing nature conservation efforts globally. She emphasizes the necessity of legal frameworks to support biodiversity conservation and the Sustainable Development Goals, urging participants to engage actively with these frameworks to ensure a sustainable future, and inviting greater engagement with the IUCN. It is possible to watch Dr. Aguilar’s keynote below:
Further, Prof. Payam Akhavan, Senior Fellow and Human Rights Chair at Massey College, University of Toronto, and who served as counsel to the Commission of Small Island States (COSIS) in the historic Advisory Opinion proceedings before the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS) and the International Court of Justice (ICJ), speaks of key insights from the world of international courts and tribunals:
A word of welcome from the co-hosts of this online symposium is available here:
Watch the first plenary session, “Linking Human Rights & Climate Change through International Law,” chaired by Adv. Ayman Cherkaoui and Dr. Ashfaq Khalfan. Here, keynote speakers Ambassador Dessima Williams and Justice Jawad Hassan provides compelling insights into how human rights law can respond to the climate emergency and advance the Sustainable Development Goals. Their discussions emphasizes the interconnectedness of human rights and environmental protection, highlighting recent developments in climate litigation and the role of international law in promoting sustainability.
Watch the second plenary session, “Governing Trade and Investment, Natural Resources & Bioeconomy Development,” chaired by Prof. Markus Gehring, Prof. Jorge Cabrera, and Prof. Ilaria Espa. Here, keynote speakers Dr. Balakrishna Pisupati discusses the legal challenges and opportunities in harnessing trade and investment to implement the Global Biodiversity Framework. They explore how legal innovations from various international accords can promote the bioeconomy and the sustainable management of natural resources, providing a comprehensive overview of the role of international law in fostering sustainable economic development.
Watch the third plenary session, “Restoring Indigenous Rights & Health for Intergenerational Justice,” chaired by Prof. Maya Prabhu and Adv. Neshan Gunasekera. Here, keynote speaker Adv. Wayne Garnons-Williams addresses the principles and laws that can secure indigenous rights, including health and education, worldwide. The discussions delves into how international law can support the water-food-energy nexus for vulnerable communities and reconcile immediate community needs with long-term sustainability and justice. This plenary underscores the importance of integrating indigenous knowledge and legal traditions into broader sustainable development frameworks.
Watch here the prestigious Hon. Justice Charles D. Gonthier Memorial Lectures and the HE Judge CG Weeramantry International Justice Awards.
Hon. Judge Dr. Kathy-Ann Brown and Prof. Christina Voigt, delivers the Gonthier Memorial Lectures, honoring the legacy of Justice Charles D. Gonthier by addressing critical issues in international law related to justice and sustainable development. Both speakers provide profound insights into international environmental law and the significant contributions of Justice Gonthier to the field.
The Weeramantry International Justice Awards celebrates the remarkable contributions of Judge Kathy-Ann Brown, Professor Damilola Olawuyi, and Professor James Bacchus. These awards recognize senior-level jurists whose lifework exemplifies the values and vision of the late Judge CG Weeramantry. The awards ceremony highlighted the laureates’ achievements in promoting justice and sustainable development through innovative legal approaches and their dedication to advancing international law.
Watch the Closing International Roundtable, chaired by Prof. Marie-Claire Cordonier Segger and Dr. Ashfaq Khalfan. Below you can listen to an interactive dialogue among plenary chairs – exploring emerging trends and innovative legal instruments to advance the UN Sustainable Development Goals.