Climate Change and International Law at a Crossroad

Thursday, September 28th - Friday, September 29th, 2023

Add to Calendar: Add to Calendar: 2023-09-28 08:00:00 2023-09-29 17:15:00 Climate Change and International Law at a Crossroad Event Description Event Agenda Glaciers and ice sheets are contracting at an alarming rate. Low lying coastal and island states face catastrophic flooding. The world’s great rivers and lakes are drying up, while climate migrants are pouring across borders. In this timely conference, two dozen of the foremost experts on international law and climate change will address: How should the international community enforce the newly recognized human right to a healthy environment? Is “ecocide” a viable international crime? Are environmental migrants entitled to refugee status? Can corporations be sued for climate change? And other salient law and policy issues at the heart of today’s climate crisis.   Jim Chen, former VP and Counsel of Tesla and Rivian Motors, will kick things off as the Thursday evening dinner speaker with remarks about the need to safeguard human rights in the production of electric car batteries. John Knox, former UN Special Rapporteur for Human Rights and the Environment, will deliver the morning keynote address on Friday. And the Honorable Chile Eboe-Osuji, former President of the International Criminal Court, will provide the Friday luncheon speech about the prosecution of environmental crimes. In keeping with the conference theme, Thursday’s opening dinner will be held at the Crawford Auto Museum, where participants will be able to tour the 140 classic cars while enjoying the sounds of the law school’s faculty-student band and taking a ride on the restored Euclid Beach Park Grand Carousel. Friday’s sessions will be held in Woodland Hall of the Cleveland Botanical Garden, located just across the street from the law school, where participants will be able to tour the Botanical Garden’s Costa Rican Rain Forest, Madagascar Spiny Desert and beautiful outdoor gardens during breaks.  CLE Reading Materials In-person event only.  Thursday, Sept. 28, 2023 Western Reserve Historical Society, Cleveland History Center 10825 East Boulevard, Cleveland, Ohio 44106 Friday, Sept. 29, 2023 Cleveland Botanical Garden 11030 East Blvd, Cleveland, OH 44106 School of Law School of Law America/New_York public

Frederick K. Cox International Law Center
Coleman P. Burke Center for Environmental Law

6.0 hours of CLE credit has been approved

Webcast Archive Content

Video: Climate Change and International Law at a Crossroad: Part 1
Video: Climate Change and International Law at a Crossroad: Part 2
Video: Climate Change and International Law at a Crossroad: Part 3
Video: Climate Change and International Law at a Crossroad: Part 4
Video: Climate Change and International Law at a Crossroad: Part 5
Video: Climate Change and International Law at a Crossroad: Part 6
Video: Climate Change and International Law at a Crossroad: Part 7

Event Description

Glaciers and ice sheets are contracting at an alarming rate. Low lying coastal and island states face catastrophic flooding. The world’s great rivers and lakes are drying up, while climate migrants are pouring across borders. In this timely conference, two dozen of the foremost experts on international law and climate change will address: How should the international community enforce the newly recognized human right to a healthy environment? Is “ecocide” a viable international crime? Are environmental migrants entitled to refugee status? Can corporations be sued for climate change? And other salient law and policy issues at the heart of today’s climate crisis.  

James Chen

Jim Chen, former VP and Counsel of Tesla and Rivian Motors, will kick things off as the Thursday evening dinner speaker with remarks about the need to safeguard human rights in the production of electric car batteries. John Knox, former UN Special Rapporteur for Human Rights and the Environment, will deliver the morning keynote address on Friday. And the Honorable Chile Eboe-Osuji, former President of the International Criminal Court, will provide the Friday luncheon speech about the prosecution of environmental crimes.

Chile Eboe-Osuji Headshot

In keeping with the conference theme, Thursday’s opening dinner will be held at the Crawford Auto Museum, where participants will be able to tour the 140 classic cars while enjoying the sounds of the law school’s faculty-student band and taking a ride on the restored Euclid Beach Park Grand Carousel. Friday’s sessions will be held in Woodland Hall of the Cleveland Botanical Garden, located just across the street from the law school, where participants will be able to tour the Botanical Garden’s Costa Rican Rain Forest, Madagascar Spiny Desert and beautiful outdoor gardens during breaks. 

John Knox Headshot

Event Location

In-person event only. 

Thursday, Sept. 28, 2023
Western Reserve Historical Society, Cleveland History Center
10825 East Boulevard, Cleveland, Ohio 44106

Friday, Sept. 29, 2023
Cleveland Botanical Garden
11030 East Blvd, Cleveland, OH 44106

Image of the world in bright and dark blues, with north america, africa and eurasia prominent