Climate Crimes - Waiting for the Law to Catch Up

When standards, morals and values don’t do enough to convince people that environmental protection and social justice are not just nice to have but a necessity to maintain a safe, just and healthy way of living, the rule of law becomes essential. With emissions continuing to increase, fossil fuel projects continuing to be approved, nature discarded as something to worry about later and the harms of AI, social media, housing inequity and structural vulnerability all to be solved by the myth of the market, what role does the law and lawyers have in creating the type of future we want and envisage?

Litigation has become an important tool in how change towards a net and real zero can be brought about. Across Australia, the EU, the US and many other jurisdictions, some of the most clever minds have been undertaking many versions of court-based interventions to compel governments and businesses to adopt credible transition plans, to settle human rights and First Nations claims, and requiring countries to legislate emissions reductions. So often though, we see the results of a legal and regulatory framework that is inadequate to support science-based outcomes. No requirement to account for climate change in Australia’s environmental laws. No duty of care for governments to consider the impacts of their decisions on future generations or First Nations peoples. No serious effort to enforce the laws that are there now.

The law has a serious and often under-valued role to play in how Australia undertakes a transition to a net zero. From the necessity for wholesale regulatory reform to improving the capabilities and competencies of legal professions to understand the implications of decisions on driving climate change, it is evident that much is needed to both enhance the role of the law but also use it as a tool of strategic change.

At this supper club, we will be joined by Elaine Johnson to explore these themes and hear examples where the law has been and could be used effectively as a tool of change. Elaine is a leading landowner advocate and environment and climate lawyer with over 18 years practice experience. She has extensive experience advising and representing landowners and communities in relation to disputes with the resources industry, and on the development of legal strategies for a safe climate and healthy environment. Elaine works in pursuit of a rapid and just transition to a low carbon economy, where the rights and interests of people and nature are upheld.

Join us for a night of nourishment, belonging and to trade wisdom in our individual and collective efforts to be the change we hope to see. Food on the night will be courtesy of Gus_tronomy, while The Grifter Brewing Co are providing drinks.