Webinar: The Right to a Healthy Environment | Whitlam Institute and Human Rights Law Centre

From the water we drink, the air we breathe, to the climate that we live in, everyone should be able to enjoy a healthy and clean environment.

But that isn’t the reality, and without a healthy and clean environment it is more difficult to enjoy other human rights, whether it is housing that is habitable, to the health of people and communities.

Many countries around the world are trying to change this by inserting the right to a healthy environment in their laws. In August, the Australian Capital Territory became the first state or territory in Australia to enshrine a right to a healthy environment into their Human Rights Act.

This free webinar, co-hosted by the Whitlam Institute and the Human Rights Law Centre, unpacks what the right to a healthy environment is, how it can benefit people and planet, and what difference a right to a healthy environment in an Australian Human Rights Act, can make.

Join us on Thursday 17 October between 1pm to 2pm AEDT at this webinar to hear from:

SPEAKERS

• Melanie Montalban, Special Counsel Pasifik Program, Environmental Defenders Office
• Amy Gordon, Chief Campaigns Officer, GetUp
• Adam Beeson, General Counsel, Australian Conservation Foundation
• Jack McLean, Senior Lawyer at Human Rights Law Centre

The webinar will be moderated by Professor Azadeh Dastyari, Research & Policy Director, Whitlam Institute at Western Sydney University.

ABOUT THE SPEAKERS
Melanie Montalban is currently Special Counsel in the Pasifika Program at the Environmental Defenders Office (EDO). In this role, Melanie advises on some of the most pressing environmental matters in the Pacific region: climate change, illegal logging and unsustainable mining, including deep sea mining. Melanie’s previous roles at EDO include Special Counsel, Human Rights in the Safe Climate Program and Managing Lawyer, Australian Capital Territory where she predominately advised on climate justice and human rights matters and advocated for legal recognition of the human right to a healthy environment in Australia. Prior to becoming an environmental lawyer, Melanie was a human rights and refugee lawyer in Australia and the Asia Pacific region. Melanie combines her diverse experience to now work at the intersection of human rights and the environment.

Adam Beeson is General Counsel at the Australian Conservation Foundation. He has practiced in the field of environment and planning law in the community, private and government sectors for 20 years.

Jack McLean joined the Human Rights Law Centre in January 2024 as Senior Lawyer in the Climate Justice Program. He focuses on strategic litigation, law reform, and advocacy relating to human rights and the climate crisis.

Jack has a background representing people and communities particularly impacted by climate and environmental crises. Prior to joining the Human Rights Law Centre, Jack was a Senior Associate at Phi Finney McDonald where he specialised in public interest litigation and represented Torres Strait Islanders in a class action against the Commonwealth regarding climate impacts. He previously worked on climate and human rights litigation at Equity Generation Lawyers where he represented young people in a class action regarding coal mine approvals and electric vehicle drivers in a successful High Court challenge to state taxes on low emissions vehicles. Jack was previously a lawyer at Justice Connect where he provided advice and training to charities and non-profits and advocated for stronger protections for civil society.

Jack begun his career working on climate campaigns and strategic litigation at the Sunrise Project and Environmental Justice Australia. He has degrees in law and political science from the University of Sydney and currently sits on the board of the Australian Youth Climate Coalition.

Azadeh Dastyari is the Director, Research and Policy at the Whitlam Institute and a Professor of Human Rights Law. She is passionate about challenging systemic inequality, amplifying voices silenced by law and policy, and removing barriers to opportunity for marginalised communities. 

Amy Gordon is the Chief Campaigns Director at GetUp. Previous to this role she was First Nations Director. Her expertise lies in campaigning, media, communications and organising to develop and lead national campaigns including last year's Referendum,  fracking in the Beetaloo basin and eight election campaigns. Before she joined GetUp she worked with The Australian Youth Climate Coalition and Seed mob.

Webinar ID: 863 8570 1447

This event is held in partnership with the Whitlam Institute within Western Sydney University and the Human Rights Law Centre.