Climate Emergency in the UK

By Elf

Join the Environmental Law Foundation and UK Environmental Law Association for this half-day webinar

Wednesday 23^rd February 2022

The Environmental Law Foundation (ELF) and UKELA are holding a joint online event exploring the climate emergency including the commitment to this and the Climate Emergency Declarations made by many public bodies and other institutions.

ELF’s “Local urgency on the Climate Emergency?” report, published prior to COP26 in October 2021, indicates that while there is evidence of positive action by local authorities across the UK, there is a need for greater urgency if the concerns of a climate emergency are to be taken seriously.

The event will consider the ELF report in more detail, and explore the work by communities, public bodies and NGOs. Finally, it looks forward, from a legal perspective, to COP27 and what is required to ensure that the concept of climate emergency is embedded into civil society.

09:00 – Join the webinar

09:05 - Welcome by Chair - Richard Wald QC, Barrister, 39 Essex Chambers, Chair of ELF

09:20 Session 1 – ELF/UKELA Climate Emergency Declaration Research

- Tom Brenan, Joint Executive Director, ELF – Introduction to ELF report: Local urgency on the Climate Emergency?

- Ella Stewart, University of Birmingham – review of Climate Emergency Declarations among West Midlands local authorities

- Stephanie Bruce-Smith, UKELA Student Working Party – review of Climate Emergency Declarations among Northern Ireland local authorities

- Naomi Holford, Open University – A look forward to phase 2 of the Climate Emergency Declarations project

- Tom Brenan, ELF- round up of findings

10:05 Session 2: work flowing from Climate Emergency Declarations

- Kit England, Green Economy Manager, Glasgow City Council - city experience

- Kat Kramer, Christian Aid - NGO perspective

- Chris Holloway, Winchester Action on the Climate Crisis (WinACC) - view from a community group

10:50 - Break

11.00 Session 3: legal analysis post COP26 followed by panel discussion:

- Becky Clissmann, Senior Editor, Practical Law Company/Thomson Reuters - Climate Emergency Declarations in decision-making

- Estelle Dehon, Barrister, Cornerstone Barristers - Climate litigation, what’s missing, what should be on the agenda for COP27?

- Panel discussion and questions from the audience led by Richard Wald QC

11:45 - Closing address: Richard Wald QC

12pm – Close of conference

This event is free to attend, but all places must be booked. To book your FREE place, please visit the UKELA website here.