A message from the IBA's Legal Policy & Research Unit

There is a pressing need to upskill legal professionals and increase climate capacity and climate literacy in domestic and international settings. To quote UN Secretary-General António Guterres at the launch of the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change's Sixth Assessment Report: ‘Our world needs climate action on all fronts: everything, everywhere, all at once.’

In 2014 the IBA published a report titled Achieving Justice and Human Rights in an Era of Climate Disruption. In 2020, the Model Statute for Proceedings Challenging Government Failure to Act on Climate Change was released. In May 2020 the IBA published the Climate Crisis Statement, stating that 'the legal profession must be prepared to play a leading role in maintaining and strengthening the rule of law and supporting responsible, enlightened governance in an era marked by a climate crisis'. This Statement included guidance for law associations globally and demonstrates a commitment to collaborate actively with others for the greatest impact in addressing the climate crisis, including clients, regulators, bar associations, other professional bodies and legal networks focused on ameliorating the climate crisis.

In 2021 the IBA was admitted by the Conference of the Parties as an observer organisation to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) process. Since then, the IBA jointly held two events at COP27, collectively engaged in the 2022 Climate Law and Governance Day and held a side session at the Bonn Climate Change Conference in June 2023. These events provided valuable networking opportunities for legal practitioners, law associations, law firms, and academic institutions to exchange information, best practices, and ideas on key issues facing the legal profession and the planet. This work was carried out alongside the American Bar Association, the Brazilian Bar Association and the Law Society of England and Wales, reflecting the commitment to collaboration made under the Climate Crisis Statement.

Moving forward, the IBA Legal Policy & Research Unit have prepared three lines of work to better prepare for UNFCCC engagement and align the legal profession in the climate space, including legal guidance and outreach, professional legal training and thematic webinars.

If you would like to learn more about the initiatives outlined above, please contact us below.

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The LPRU team undertakes research, and develops and implements innovative strategies, projects and initiatives that are relevant to business and the rule of law, the global legal profession and the broader global community.

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