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The IBA’s response to the situation in Ukraine
Co-Chair
Javier De Cendra
Co-Chair
Lina
Pimentel Garcia
Environment, Health and Safety Law Committee
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.
Latest news
Global Insight: Seizing the Moment
'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
World Environment Day, 5 June 2020
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/
Forthcoming conferences and webinars View All Conferences
Biennial Conference of the Section on Energy, Environment, Natural Resources and Infrastructure Law (SEERIL) 2022
16 May - 18 May 2022
Milan, Italy
IBA Annual Conference Miami 2022
30 Oct - 04 Nov 2022
Miami Beach, USA
Environmental Webinars
- Lessons from Covid: Improving wellness at law firms
Date: 1 April 2022 Time: 13:00-14:00 BST
A webinar presented by the IBA Environment, Health and Safety Law Committee, the IBA Healthcare and Life Sciences Law Committee and the IBA Law Firm Management
- Bribery and corruption: What to do when it strikes?
Date: 25 Jan 2021
A webinar presented by the United Kingdom Energy Lawyers Group (UKEP), a subcommittee of the IBA Oil and Gas Law Committee, part of the IBA Energy, Environment, Natural Resources and Infrastructure Law Section (SEERIL)
- Water as a commodity: Merchandising water?
Date: 12 May 2021
This webinar was presented by the Water Law Committee part of the IBA Energy, Environment, Natural Resources and Infrastructure Law Section (SEERIL)
- Understanding H2: The opportunity for hydrogen to help solve the energy transition, and what lawyers need to know.
Date: 13 Sept 2021
A webinar series presented by the IBA International Construction Projects Committee, part of the IBA Energy, Environment, Natural Resources and Infrastructure Law Section (SEERIL)
- The evolution and emergence of environmental justice
Date: 28 Sept 2021
A webinar presented by the IBA Section on Energy, Environment, Natural Resources and Infrastructure Law (SEERIL)
- How to opt out of climate-unfriendly food: Consumer action or regulatory restrictions
Date: 5 May 2021
A webinar presented by the Maritime and Transport Law committee
- Asset financing the transportation industry
Date: 6 Oct 2021
A webinar presented by the Maritime and Transport Law Committee
- Time and temperature sensitive transports
Date: 16 Nov 2021
A webinar presented by the IBA Maritime and Transport Law Committee
- Decarbonising supply chains in the oil and gas sector
Date: 15 Mar 2021
A webinar presented by the IBA Oil and Gas Law Committee
Journal of Energy & Natural Resources Law
Published quarterly, the Journal of Energy & Natural Resources Law (JERL) is the journal of the SEERIL. Featuring contributions written by some of the finest academic minds and most successful practitioners in this area of study, JERL is a highly respected journal committed to reflecting contemporary issues that face the energy and natural resources sectors.
Publications
Biodiversity: the Nagoya Protocol and its impacts in Brazil
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 negative environmental effects of plastic shopping bags
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 gaps in final disposal of cannabis-based products in Brazilian legislation
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
Tackling open defecation in Nigeria
Projects and reports
Covid-19 relief measures: environment, health and safety law perspective - May 2020
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 reportIBA/UNEP Project on Continuing Legal Education in Environmental Law - 2019
The 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 CurriculumAchieving Justice and Human Rights in an Era of Climate Disruption - 2014
Global 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 reportSubcommittees and other groups
The Environment, Health and Safety Law Committee also coordinates the activities of the following subcommittees/working groups.
- Presidential Task Force on Climate Change Justice and Human Rights