Co-Chair
Javier de Cendra
Co-Chair
Lina
Pimentel Garcia
The Committee addresses, among others, issues as diverse as sustainable development, biodiversity, air, water, groundwater and waste regulation, climate change, safety in the workplace, protection of endangered species, food safety, environment and trade.
'2020 was meant to be a red-letter year for addressing the climate crisis, with governments expected to set ambitious emission reduction goals as part of the Paris Agreement. Covid-19 has shuttered economies, bringing visible reductions in pollution and raising hopes of emerging into a cleaner future.'
Read the latest article on the climate crisis in the 'build back better' edition of Global Insight online, or download the app on the App Store or Google Play Store
Every year we celebrate World Environment Day on 5 June. It is the United Nations' flagship day for promoting global environmental awareness and action. Over the years, it has become the world's largest environmental public outreach forum, carried throughout 100 countries by millions of people.
The day has also become a vital platform for promoting progress in sustainable development environmental dimensions since 1974. More than 150 countries participate annually under the guidance of the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP), and it is endorsed by leading companies, non-governmental organisations, cities, governments, and celebrities from all over the world.
This year, the event is devoted to biodiversity protection, as 2020 is the first year of the Biodiversity Decade. Biodiversity is fundamental for the wellbeing of the ecosystem and plays a key role in preserving human life and health. The EHS Committee invites you to join this celebration and take an active role the projects and activities currently being conducted by the Committee.
Check our current IBA/UNEP project under ‘Projects and reports’, and participate in the activities organised by the United Nations available at https://www.worldenvironmentday.global/
30 Oct - 04 Nov 2022
Miami Beach, USA
29 Oct - 03 Nov 2023
Paris, France
The Nagoya Protocol is an international agreement that promotes the conservation and sustainable use of genetic resources and sharing benefits. It strengthens the contribution of biodiversity to environmental development. In August 2020, Brazil ratified the Protocol: it now has the right to vote and will be able to influence the significant decisions that are still to be made in the implementation procedure of this agreement, promoting a fair and equitable share of the benefits brought by the use of geneti
The humble plastic bag is a common commodity often used for shopping, but is also an important item in the global litter network. A policy of education should be undertaken to teach the general public about the detrimental effect on the ecosystem of careless use of plastic bags. intensifying the drive by highlighting the danger plastic bags pose to affect our climate, safety, marine life and tourism
The use of cannabis-based products for medicinal purposes was authorised in Brazil by the National Health Surveillance Agency (ANVISA) in 2019, but with a series of safeguards and precautions. There is also a provision that such products should be subjected to proper environmental final disposal, but the legislation in force has several gaps within this subject. This article aims to explore the inconsistences and alternatives for the legal treatment of the waste originated from the usage of these cannabis-
Tackling open defecation in Nigeria
The Flemish government has adopted a new policy to remove asbestos from buildings. The ultimate goal of these rules is to create an asbestos-safe environment by 2040. One measure is the introduction of an attestation of asbestos inventory (asbestinventarisatieattest). This attestation will need to be present at every transfer of real estate in Flanders. The decree was adopted in the spring of 2019, but the precise date of entry into force of the provisions regarding asbestos still needs to be determined by
The IBA Environment, Health and Safety Law Committee Officers have prepared this chart to help members navigate the most relevant pieces of legislation recently enacted by several jurisdictions to cope with the effect of Covid-19 on environment, health and safety law. We look forward to receiving your comments and hope this chart will be useful for your daily activities.
Download the reportThe United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the IBA are pleased to share this Framework Model Curriculum on Continuing Legal Education In Environmental Law so that lawyers are able to effectively enforce environmental law, nationally and regionally, and are equipped to support the implementation of environmental rule of law.
The UNEP approached the IBA in order to develop a project that would make a meaningful contribution to the improvement of the advisory and litigation skills of environmental law practitioners across the world. UNEP has extended experience in developing such programmes for judges, prosecutors and the public administration, but so far has not ventured into the training of practising lawyers. And yet the perception is that this is key to improving the protection of the environment across the world. This is of course an area in which we are very well positioned to assist.
Download the Framework Model CurriculumGlobal climate change is a defining challenge of our time. Dramatic alterations to the planet’s climate system are already affecting the world’s inhabitants and its natural environment.
This wide-ranging and comprehensive report from the IBA Presidential Task Force on Climate Change Justice and Human Rights - co-led by then-Committee Co-Chair David Estrin - identifies problems and gaps in existing legal, human rights, trade and other institutional arrangements.
It contains a series of new ideas and recommendations to governments and world institutions, such as the World Trade Organization, human rights bodies, international development financing agencies, as well as specific law and corporate governance reforms to aid in the prevention and mitigation of climate change impacts and protect the human rights of vulnerable communities.
Download the reportThe Environment, Health and Safety Law Committee also coordinates the activities of the following subcommittees/working groups.