Rapid Response Webinar: Legal Reflections on the ICJ's Climate Advisory Opinion and Beyond

Event Details

On 23 July 2025, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) is expected to deliver its long-awaited Advisory Opinion on climate change—marking a historic moment in international environmental law. This rapid response event brings together a stellar line-up of experts to reflect on the Opinion's implications for climate governance, international cooperation, and litigation.

The event will also place the ICJ Opinion in dialogue with two other landmark climate-related advisory opinions recently delivered by international courts: the Advisory Opinion of the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS) of 21 May 2024 and the Advisory Opinion of the Inter-American Court of Human Rights (IACtHR) of 3 July 2025. Speakers will participate in a dynamic, moderated discussion exploring the legal reasoning, mutual influences, and cross-fertilisation among these three opinions. The conversation will highlight their broader significance for states, courts, civil society, and climate-impacted communities around the world. 

This event is convened by Dr Ivano Alogna, Senior Research Fellow in Environmental and Climate Change Law, BIICL; Co-Lead of the Climate Litigation Cluster, IUCN World Commission on Environmental Law's Climate Change Law Specialist Group, Dr Kate McKenzie, CEO and Director, Climate Change Legal Initiative; Co-Lead of the Climate Litigation Cluster, and Kristin Hausler, Dorset Senior Research Fellow in Public International Law and Director, Centre for International Law, BIICL.

Organised in collaboration with the Climate Change Legal Initiative (C2LI) and the Climate Litigation Cluster, IUCN World Commission on Environmental Law's Climate Change Law Specialist Group.

Watch a recording of the event 

 
Chair

Prof. Malgosia Fitzmaurice, Professor of Public International Law at Queen Mary University of London (QMUL)

Speakers:

• Prof. Surya Deva, Professor at the Macquarie Law School and Director of the Centre for Environmental Law and B&HR Access to Justice Lab at Macquarie University; UN Special Rapporteur on the Right to Development
• Monica Feria Tinta, Barrister at Twenty Essex
• Dr Kate McKenzie, CEO and Director, Climate Change Legal Initiative (C2LI); Co-Lead of the Climate Litigation Cluster, IUCN-WCEL, Climate Change Law Specialist Group
• Prof. Nilufer Oral, Director of the Centre for International Law at the National University of Singapore; Member of the UN International Law Commission (ILC)
• Prof. Francesco Sindico, Professor of International Environmental Law at the University of Strathclyde Law School; Co-Chair of the IUCN World Commission on Environmental Law Climate Change Specialist Group
• Prof. Christina Voigt, Professor of Law at the University of Oslo; Chair of the IUCN World Commission on Environmental Law
    

Join in the conversation @biicl.bsky.social #ICJClimate