Climate litigation is on the rise globally and emerging as a powerful tool to advance climate action and accountability for climate harms. This trend has been steady in Australia, with governments and private sector entities being increasingly challenged in Court by NGOs, private individuals (including shareholders) and corporate regulators.
Although many cases put forward innovative legal arguments, a large number have been unsuccessful. This raises important questions about the strategic role and implications of climate litigation in Australia for Government, corporations, NGOs and civil society more broadly.
What role does (and should) the law play in promoting climate justice and our transition to net zero? Is climate litigation really advancing climate accountability, or is it being used as an arena for climate activism? If the latter, is that really a problem?
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UNSW’s Institute for Climate Risk and Response (ICRR) and Centre for the Future of the Legal Profession (Law & Justice UNSW) will be hosting a panel discussion to discuss these issues and the future of climate litigation in Australia - from inside the courtroom and beyond.
Join us as we hear from our chair Dr Riona Moodley (Institute of Climate Risk and Response / Law & Justice, UNSW) and panel of speakers, including:
🔹Professor Jacqueline Peel - Director, Melbourne’s Climate Futures
🔹Professor Michael Legg - Director, Centre for the Future of the Legal Profession (UNSW)
🔹Jennifer Balding - Partner, Viridis Legal
🔹Ben Phi - Managing Director, Phi Finney McDonald
🔹Beau Deleuil - Partner, Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan
🔹Maria Nawaz - General Counsel, Grata Fund
Together, they’ll unpack the strategies, challenges and future of climate litigation - from inside the courtroom and beyond.
All attendees earn 1CPD unit - Substantive law
The Panel will be followed by networking drinks and canapes.
Take advantage of our early bird promotion but entering the code EarlyBird at the checkout. Offer expires 20th August 2025.
Contact icrr@unsw.edu.au for any questions you may have.
