[Lecture] How effective are international courts and tribunals in protecting the environment?

Join us for this debate between leading practitioners and scholars on the promise (or otherwise) of the international resolution dispute system to protect our planet and deliver justice for those most affected by the environmental crises we are facing.

A debate on the international resolution dispute system
The debate is organised to celebrate the launch of The Environment Through the Lens of International Courts and Tribunals which explores the challenges and opportunities faced by this system in protecting the environment. 

The book examines the strengths and weaknesses of different international judicial and arbitral fora with respect to the settlement of environmental disputes and contrasts their role with that of other means of enforcing international obligations in the sphere of environmental law, such as treaty compliance mechanisms and national courts.

Speakers

Dr. Mamadou Hébié
Dr. Mamadou Hébié is Associate Professor of International Law at the Grotius Centre for International Legal Studies (Leiden Law School). He practiced international law as Special Assistant to the President of the International Court of Justice, H. E. Judge Abdulqawi A. Yusuf, as part of litigation teams before the Court and the International Tribunal of the Law of the Sea, as well as in investor-state disputes.

His Excellency Mr. Philippe Couvreur
His Excellency Mr. Philippe Couvreur, Ad Hoc Judge of the International Court of Justice, ICSID Arbitrator, and former Registrar of the International Court of Justice (2000-2019). Mr. Couvreur is the author of numerous publications on international law and in particular the International Court of Justice. He has lectured at many universities around the world and at various academic institutions such as the Xiamen Academy of International Law and The Hague Academy of International Law and his Alma Mater, the University of Louvain.

Sarah Mead
Sarah Mead, Co-Director of the Climate Litigation Network, a project of the Urgenda Foundation. She specialises in international environmental law and international human rights law – with a focus on States’ obligations in light of the climate crisis. She is co-editor of the book The Environment through the Lens of International Courts and Tribunals  and co-lead of the project of the World Commission on Environmental Law (WCEL) project: Judicial Handbook on Climate Litigation.

Sumeyra Arslan
Sumeyra Arslan is an international lawyer. She has worked for various NGOs, including the Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL), aiming to ensure a healthy environment for all. She is also a campaigner for World’s Youth for Climate Justice, supporting the campaign for an Advisory Opinion on human rights and climate change.

Watch the lecture