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ClientEarth Summit 28 - 30 September 2021

Programme

We are delighted to welcome you to ClientEarth’s second virtual summit. Once again, we are thrilled to host a global forum for experts, peers and partners from across the environmental movement and other sectors to explore new ways of effecting change for a brighter, healthier future planet. Scroll down to explore our agenda and find out more about each of our summit sessions.

28 September 2021

29 September 2021

30 September 2021

Unfair air: do current legal limits for air pollution really protect the people who most need it?

Illegal and dangerous levels of air pollution are harming citizens across the EU and in the UK. Although we are all affected, some members of our societies are disproportionally impacted by dirty air. This session will explore how governments across Europe could better protect these communities. Panelists will also address how citizens can help put pressure on governments to adopt stronger laws and safer limits for air pollution.

Featuring: Aleksandra Kazmierczak- Climate change and human health expert at the European Environment Agency, Dr Jo Barnes- Senior Research Fellow in the Air Quality Management Resource Centre at the University of the West of England, Rosamund Adoo-Kissi-Debrah- World Health Organization advocate for health and air quality and co-founder of the Ella Roberta Family Foundation, Weronika Michalak- Director of the Polish office of the Health and Environment Alliance, Irmina Kotiuk- Senior Lawyer, Fundamental Rights Specialist at ClientEarth, Andrea Lee- Clean Air Campaigns and Policy Manager at ClientEarth.

Aleksandra Kazmierczak, Rosamund Adoo-Kissi-Debrah, Irmina Kotiuk, Dr Jo Barnes, Weronika Michalak, Andrea Lee

Fashion vs Nature

Behind every garment, thread and stitch there is a greater story being told. Join us for a collective discussion on the role the fashion industry plays within the biodiversity crisis. This session will delve into why it is crucial for the fashion industry to implement sustainable practices that support a circular economy, human rights and protection of indigenous lands. Panellists will explore current legislation and the solutions needed to enact systemic change.

Featuring: Livia Firth MBE- Co-founder and Creative Director of Eco-Age, Dalena White- Secretary General at International Wool Textile Organisation, Eléonore Maitre-Ekern, Dr. juris- Postdoctoral researcher at the Department of Private Law, University of Oslo, Soo-Young Hwang- Legal Officer at UN Environment Programme, and Rahemur Rahman, Creative Director at Rahemur Rahman.

Soo-Young Hwang, Livia Firth MBE, Eléonore Maitre-Ekern & Dalena White

Logging off from deforestation – Innovative legal solutions

Deforestation is one of the world’s biggest environmental challenges. Half the world's rainforests have been destroyed in the past hundred years. Among other devastating impacts, this has meant the decimation of biodiversity and local communities’ livelihoods, and the loss of tree cover has hugely contributed to climate change and soil degradation. We can and must do more to protect our forests. Our experts will outline innovative legal solutions to tackle deforestation and its effects that are emerging around the world. In so doing, they will describe real-life community-based legal approaches, discuss the use of litigation, and explain the impact of investigations into forest-risk commodity supply chains, all to protect forests and the incredible biodiversity they contain.

Featuring: Alec Dawson- Forests Campaigner at the Environmental Investigation Agency, Bruce Searby- Special Counsel to Climate Advisers, Rhavena Madeira- Project Manager at the Center for Climate Crime Analysis, Marie Toussaint- Green Party Member of the European Parliament, Charlotte Pasquier- Climate and Forests Lawyer/Juriste at ClientEarth & Brian Rohan- Head of Climate and Forests at ClientEarth.

Bruce Searby, Marie Toussaint, Alec Dawson, Rhavena Madeira, Charlotte Pasquier & Brian Rohan

Investing in the future

Climate change is no longer just an environmental issue. The huge impact of climate change on the foundation of our economies makes it a financial risk too. The financial world is moving far too slowly and there’s a long way to go, but investors can and are using their power as a force for good in the fight against climate change. Hear from those on the right side of history shaking up the financial sector’s approach to climate risk, and supporting private investors to make positive change happen.

Featuring: Chris Dodwell- Head of Policy & Advocacy, Director at Impax Asset Management, Assaad W. Razzouk- CEO of Gurīn Energy, Paul Watchman, Advisory Board Chair at Lawyers for Net Zero, and Joanne Etherton, Senior Lawyer and Climate Finance Lead at ClientEarth.

Paul Watchman, Chris Dodwell, Assaad W. Razzouk & Joanne Etherton

Greenwashing: how dangerous is corporate climate spin?

Climate scientists warn we have less than 10 years to prevent catastrophic climate change. Yet instead of actually transitioning their businesses, many of the world’s most polluting companies are spending big on misleading advertising campaigns, deceiving the public into thinking their business activities are in line with society’s goals as set out in the Paris Agreement. This session will look at how polluters’ advertising launders their image and the real world impact of this greenwashing on meaningful climate action.

Featuring: Dr. Geoffrey Supran- Research Fellow in the Department of the History of Science at Harvard University and Director of Climate Accountability Communication at the Climate Social Science Network headquartered at Brown University, Rebecca Leber- Senior Reporter at Vox, Johnny White- Climate Accountability Lawyer at ClientEarth, final speaker to be announced, and Martin Watters, Strategic Communications Manager at ClientEarth.

Dr. Geoffrey Supran, Rebecca Leber, Johnny White & Martin Watters

The Future of the Global Energy System

Moving towards a zero carbon economy is vital for the future of our planet. However, as the phase out of fossil fuels in the global energy system gains momentum, “blue” hydrogen and gas are increasingly being pushed as suitable alternatives by oil and gas companies and some governments, despite science indicating neither will help us achieve net zero. This panel will discuss the climate, health and political implications of moving beyond continued reliance on gas, and how we, as the general public, can support this transition. 

Featuring: Tim Baxter- Senior Researcher for Climate Solutions at the Climate Council, Faye Holder- Program Manager at InfluenceMap, and Charlotte Hanson- Energy Systems Lawyer at ClientEarth

Charlotte Hanson, Tim Baxter & Faye Holder

How the erosion of democracy in Poland affects the fight for climate and environment

The EU institutions, the Council of Europe and the United Nations, to name a few, have been pointing out to the ongoing crisis of the rule of law in Poland. Major state institutions have lost their independence. Democratic backsliding has a direct impact not only on the judiciary but also on the functioning of the state in other spheres. During this session, we will ask a leading human rights lawyer, President of the Frank Bold Foundation, a young climate activist and a journalist of the main Polish daily, about the impact of reforms undertaken in Poland in recent years on the fight against the climate crisis and on environmental protection.

Featuring: Dr. Adam Bodnar- Dean of the Faculty of Law at the University of Social Sciences and Humanities in Warsaw, Bartosz Kwiatkowski- Director of the Frank Bold Foundation, Dominika Lasota- Climate Activist, Adam Wajrak- Journalist at Gazeta Wyborcza, and Zuzanna Rudzinska-Bluszcz- Head of ClientEarth Poland.

Dr. Adam Bodnar, Bartosz Kwiatkowski, Zuzanna Rudzinska-Bluszcz, Dominika Lasota & Adam Wajrak

Healing our soil: a win-win for people and planet

Soil is vital to life on Earth – it provides our food, and the materials which form our clothes and build our homes. Soil plays a vital role in our economy, filters our water, and also has the ability to store huge volumes of carbon. Yet soil is a finite resource. Intensive industrial farming, unsustainable agricultural practices and chemical use, coupled with the growing impact of climate change has left the world’s soil’s at breaking point. Soils are being eroded and degraded faster than they can be replaced. Soil that is healthy and thriving provides extraordinary benefits for our health, our communities, our climate, and for nature. Preserving and improving the health of our soils is a win-win for both people and planet. Join us for this discussion on how protecting soil could be a game-changer – a key solution to many of the global challenges we face – and explore what we can all do to help

Featuring: Dr. Vandana Shiva- Environmental Activist and Sustainable Agriculture Advocate, Arizona Muse- Model, activist and sustainability consultant, Jyoti Fernandes, Member of the Landworkers’ Alliance in the UK, and Lara Fornabaio- Lawyer and Agriculture Lead at ClientEarth.

Jyoti Fernandes, Arizona Muse, Dr. Vandana Shiva & Lara Fornabaio

Human Rights and Nature

Legal arguments based on human rights are increasingly gaining prominence in the battle against climate change. This session will explore whether is it also possible to bring more attention to the intrinsic links between human rights and nature protection laws, in a way that will simultaneously advance both human rights and the protection of biodiversity. Join our panellists who will be discussing novel approaches to legal interventions for people and the planet. 

Featuring: Luciana Téllez Chávez- Environment and Human Rights Researcher, Steve Trent- CEO of the Environmental Justice Foundation, Levi Sucre Romero- Coordinator of the Mesoamerican Alliance of Peoples and Forests, and Adam Weiss- Head of Ocean, Plastics and Chemicals at ClientEarth.

Steve Trent, Luciana Téllez Chávez, Levi Sucre Romero & Adam Weiss

How environmental giving can change our world

Our planet is dramatically changing yet most research shows around less than 2% of global giving is focused on initiatives to stop climate change and protect nature. Over the coming decade, the pace at which we can mitigate these environmental challenges will determine what kind of future we live in. There is shifting momentum from government and industry to address these issues, but their urgency requires a multi-pronged approach. In this session, you will hear how environmental giving is being used as an effective tool to create a healthier, sustainable world.

Featuring: Florence Miller- Director of the Environmental Funders Network, Dr. Felicitas von Peter- Managing Partner of Active Philanthropy, Yan Swiderski- Co-Founder of the Global Returns Project, and Manuela Moollan- Impact & Sustainability Strategy Consultant, Founder, Walk The Talk.

Manuela Moollan, Dr. Felicitas von Peter, Florence Miller & Yan Swiderski

Hearts and heads - how music, law and climate action work together

In this very special episode of Sounds Like A Plan – the podcast all about music and climate action – hosts Greg Cochrane and Fay Milton speak to ClientEarth founder James Thornton about the organisation's transformative work, and how the power of popular culture is essential when it comes to communicating the urgency of the climate crisis.

Featuring: Greg Cochrane- Journalist and Podcaster, Sounds Like A Plan, Fay Milton- Musician and activist, and James Thornton- Founding CEO of ClientEarth.

Fay Milton, James Thornton & Greg Cochrane

Maintaining migration in the animal kingdom

Animal migration is a true wonder of nature, with millions of creatures great and small making epic and sometimes treacherous journeys by air, land and sea every year in order to find food, shelter or mates. Patterns of travel between different species are often interconnected, and the slightest variations in these routes can cause snow-ball effects across the food chain, ultimately in worst cases resulting in the extinction of species. Human impacts on natural habitats are a huge cause for concern, but we will hear from those mitigating against interference with migration, to ensure that wildlife can continue to follow its natural path.

Featuring: José Alves- Senior Research Associate at the University of Aveiro, Ulrich Eichelmann- Founding CEO of Riverwatch, Dr. Nathalie Pettorelli- Senior scientist at the Institute of Zoology, Zoological Society of London, and Anna Heslop- Head of Wildlife & Habitats at ClientEarth

Anna Heslop, José Alves, Ulrich Eichelmann & Dr. Nathalie Pettorelli

How to process climate grief

When faced with catastrophic wildfires, devastating floods and rising sea levels, it can be hard to come to terms with the changes that are impacting our planet and all the species that call earth home. Our speakers will share what climate grief means to them, and explore how we can all process our emotions in a way that works for us individually, and so that we can confront the crisis and take meaningful political action.

Featuring: Dr. Renzo Guinto- Associate Professor of the Practice of Global Public Health and Inaugural Director of the Planetary and Global Health Program of the St. Luke’s Medical Center College of Medicine in the Philippines, Megan Kennedy-Woodard- Co-Founder at Climate Psychologists, Tamara Lindeman- Songwriter and singer, Ash Sanders- Climate activist, journalist and podcast producer, and Adam Weiss- Head of Ocean, Plastics and Chemicals at ClientEarth.

Tamara Lindeman, Ash Sanders, Megan Kennedy-Woodard, Dr. Renzo Guinto & Adam Weiss

How to win a case for nature

Our planet is changing. Rising carbon emissions are accelerating climate change. Our forests are disappearing. The air we breathe and the oceans we depend on are polluted. Vulnerable plants and animals are under threat. At ClientEarth we draw on our expertise, using the power of the law to come up with solutions to these challenges. We also work with and alongside many lawyers, partners and other NGO’s to take this fight to court. What better way to close this year’s Summit than by hearing from expert litigators who have successfully fought against governments and big oil and finding out about the legal tools they used to win their cases for the planet.

Featuring: Paul van Zyl- Co-founder and Chief Creative Officer at The Conduit, Roger Cox- mr. R.H.J. Cox, Attorney Professor Dr. Remo Klinger- Partner at Geulen & Klinger, and Amy Rose- Director of Litigation, Compliance & MEL / Legal Director at ClientEarth.

Attorney Professor Dr. Remo Klinger, Paul van Zyl, Roger Cox & Amy Rose

From everyone at ClientEarth, thank you for joining us.