ESG (Environmental, social and governance)

ESG in Evolution: the legal imperatives of tomorrow

26–27 March 2026, Paris, France

Learn more about the conference and register interest.

Ten years since Leghari v Pakistan: the state of play in international climate litigation

A webinar presented by the IBA Environment, Health and Safety Law Committee and supported by the IBA Litigation Committee and the IBA Legal Policy & Research Unit

2025 marks ten years since Asghar Leghari successfully challenged the inaction of the Federal and Provincial Government of Pakistan against climate change in the landmark decision of Leghari v Federation of Pakistan, leading to the creation of Pakistan’s Climate Change Commission. Since that time, climate litigation has continued to gather momentum across the globe.

Join Asghar Leghari and legal experts to consider the impacts of the Leghari decision and the subsequent evolution of climate jurisprudence across the globe, including groundbreaking recent advisory opinions delivered by the International Court of Justice and Inter-American Court of Human Rights, as well as future trends.

Click here to watch a recording of the webinar.

19–20 June 2025, Paris, France

A conference presented by the IBA European Regional Forum, the IBA North American Regional Forum, the IBA Energy, Environment, Natural Resources and Infrastructure Law Section (SEERIL), the IBA Business Human Rights Committee and the IBA Law Firm Management Committee.

Topics will include:

• divergence of approach on ESG in North America and Europe;
• global regulatory shifts - Exploring regional ESG perspectives with a focus on bridging the differences between the Global North and Global South;
• the intersection of ESG with several sector specific topics, including fashion, finance and mining;
• updates from industry leaders on ESG and national security, regulatory landscapes and AI; and
• executive roundtable discussions

Learn more about the conference

18 June 2025, Paris, France

A training session presented by the IBA European Regional Forum, the IBA North American Regional Forum, the IBA Energy, Environment, Natural Resources and Infrastructure Law Section (SEERIL), the IBA Business Human Rights Committee and the IBA Law Firm Management Committee.

Looking to enhance your legal expertise in sustainability disclosure and due diligence? Join expert legal advisers and in-house counsel for a specialised half-day training event, designed to equip attendees with a strong technical understanding of:

Topics will include:

• the global sustainability disclosure and due diligence landscape;
• the requirements and extraterritorial effects of the EU Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) and Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD); and
• practical tips for lawyers to support legal compliance and good practice environmental and human rights disclosure and due diligence in the EU and beyond.

This training is open to all legal practitioners with a basic knowledge of sustainability reporting and due diligence, and will serve as an ideal primer for lawyers attending the IBA Annual ESG Conference the following day.

Learn more about the conference

A list of sessions that took place throughout the conference can be downloaded here.

In February 2024, the IBA North American Regional Forum and the Energy, Environment, Natural Resources and Infrastructure Law Section (SEERIL) convened the IBA’s second ESG Conference at Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton, New York. The conference featured expert panellists from across private practice, civil society, academia, ratings agencies and multilateral development banks, on topics including:

• global ESG trends and hot takes – the Brussels effect, the backlash, the view from Africa and more;
• ESG, politics, noise and business – helping clients to focus on what is important and to ignore the rest;
• diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) – how to help clients manage the ‘S’ in ESG;
• due diligence and ESG – identifying new requirements and key risks for clients; and
• Chief Sustainability Officer/Climate Officer/Chief ESG Officer – what’s the role and what’s the challenge? How are departments organised? What are the hallmarks of effective leadership?

In the May 2024 edition of the Sustainable Law in Action podcast, Sara Carnegie, IBA Legal Projects Director, and barrister Melissa Murphy KC, speak with expert panellists at the IBA’s 2024 ESG Conference about the role of lawyers in the ESG space, and the challenges and opportunities facing businesses and law firms in this evolving and increasingly politicised area.

Soundbites from the 2024 IBA ESG Conference

Short on time? Listen to soundbites from our conversations with expert panellists at the 2024 ESG Conference below.