Navigating Climate-Related Legal Risks and Opportunities
In brief
| Details: | |
| Course Webinar | Watch the Recording |
| Dates | 24 - 28 June 2024 |
| Duration | 5 day residential |
| Location | Oxford |
| Accommodation | En-suites at historic St Peter's College |
| Teaching Venues | HB Allen Centre and The Divinity School |
Fees: | |
| Private | £6,750 |
| Public | £4,500 |
| Further information: | |
| Brochure (for improved view use alternative to Chrome) | Download Programme Brochure |
| Accreditation | CPD accreditation in progress |
| Apply Now | Applications closed for 2024 |
| Register Your Interest | Register for Updates |
| For more information or any questions please contact: |
| executive.education@smithschool.ox.ac.uk |
Overview
In a world grappling with disruptive climate change and an unprecedented transition of our societies towards net zero, climate-related legal action has emerged as a critical force shaping the future of business, government, and society. For senior leaders and their advisors, understanding the intersection of law and climate change has become paramount. The University of Oxford is proud to introduce its first executive education course specifically designed around these challenges.
Why climate change and the law matters
Legal action – including climate litigation, new regulations, and emerging policy trends – changes the landscape of risks and opportunities for a wide range of sectors, industries, and government authorities. Those unprepared for these changes expose themselves to significant financial, operational, and reputational risks, while informed and forward-looking experts may find opportunities for transformative, positive change that benefits their organisations and stakeholders. Motivating these changes is the question whether we are collectively doing enough to mitigate the risks from climate change, and whether the right balance is struck between enabling legal evolution and providing legal certainty.
The Course
This new five-day course – delivered on-site at the historic and picturesque University of Oxford – offers a deep dive into the state of the art and future directions of the law in the context of climate change, studied through the lens of climate-related legal risks and opportunities. Delivered by world-leading Oxford faculty and other world class experts, we will examine and discuss key legal and regulatory developments in the context of climate change against the backdrop of relevant scientific, political, and economic developments. Topics include:
- Current trends and future directions in net zero policy, regulation, and climate litigation
- Understanding international legal frameworks relating to climate change
- Latest advances in scientific understanding of climate change impacts
- State of the art in the science, politics, and economics of net zero
- An economic analysis of legal risks and opportunities resulting from climate-related legal actions.
Whether your work and interests lie in government, law, professional services, business, non-profit advocacy, or elsewhere, this immersive and interactive course will equip you with the knowledge, insight, and connections to understand and navigate the rapidly evolving legal landscape. You will be equipped to anticipate future directions in climate-related legal action, and thrive in a world where climate, economics, policy, and law are increasingly salient and intertwined.
Objectives
Throughout the programme participants will:
- Obtain a birds-eye-view of the key trends and future directions of climate-related legal actions and their impacts on society and businesses
- Gain proficiency in analysing and interpreting complex legal issues related to climate change, enabling you to identify and evaluate potential solutions and strategies, and their impacts on businesses, government and non-profit activities
- Dive deep into critical topics at the intersection of climate change, including the latest developments in net zero regulation and policy, climate litigation, and climate science
- Appreciate how climate-related legal actions affect the nature, magnitude, and distribution of financial climate risk exposures – gaining a deep insight into the economic and financial implications of climate-related legal actions that builds on the latest available science
- Build a strong international network of like-minded professionals from diverse backgrounds and industries, fostering collaboration and knowledge sharing
- Immerse in a unique academic and cultural environment including traditional Oxford customs such as candlelit college dinners, Oxford Union-style debates, punting on the River Cherwell, and historical city tours
The Oxford Sustainable Law Programme at the University of Oxford
The University of Oxford is a world-leading university that has pioneered research and education in the context of climate change. This course is offered by the Oxford Sustainable Law Programme, a collaboration between the Faculty of Law and the Smith School of Enterprise and the Environment that brings in perspectives from across the university and beyond to provide academic leadership at the intersection of law and sustainability globally.
Curriculum
- Introduction: the legally disruptive nature of climate change
- Scientific perspectives on decarbonisation and net zero
- International climate change law: evaluating the UNFCCC process
- Overcoming incumbency: how vested inerests slow down climate action
- Discussion: how can we characterise the challenges facing effective legal resolution of the problems associated with climate change?
- Evening activity: walking tour of Oxford, informal BBQ
- Economics of decarbonisation
- Decarbonisation: emission reductions and CDR
- Decarbonisation obligations (e.g. framework legislation, sector-specific obligations)
- Enabling voluntary decarbonisation: securities regulation and corporate law
- Demanding decarbonisation: climate litigation
- Discussion: how can legal action support (or complicate) decarbonisation, and what are the limits of legal action?
- Evening activity: walk on Port Meadow to the Perch
- Attributing climate impacts to human activity
- Assessing climate change impacts
- Climate litigation strategies to address climate change impacts
- How legal accountability for climate impacts creates financial risk
- Discussion: what level of accountability for climate change impact is desirable and how could the law facilitate such accountability?
- Evening activity: Debate at Divinity School and Punting on River Cherwell
- Private sector action: credible and high-integrity action, and limits to private sector actions (e.g. greenwashing, limits in market-based mechanisms)
- Public sector action: the political economy of the adoption and enforcement of meaningful climate policies
- NGO action: the role of civil society in climate action
- Evening activity: formal dinner at Keble College
- Evaluating climate-related legal risks and opportunities in groups
- Discussion with representatives of each sector
- Wrap-up
This programme is designed for decision-makers, practitioners, and other key actors including but not limited to:
- Business
- Law
- Professional services
- Civil society
- Government
- Non-profit professionals
- Academics and researchers
- Individuals seeking a career change
The programme is designed to be relevant to professionals from a wide range of backgrounds and industries. Participants will have the opportunity to learn from leading Oxford faculty and other world-class experts, and to network with peers from around the globe.
Join us at the University of Oxford and become a pioneer in the field of sustainable law.
The programme fee includes all teaching costs, brand new en-suite accommodation at historic St Peter's College for five nights, breakfast, lunch and several dinners. It does not include the cost of travel to and from Oxford, visas, insurance or any personal expenses.
Payment is due within 30 days of notification of acceptance, or 6 weeks before the programme begins, whichever is sooner. Registration will only be confirmed on receipt of full payment of the programme fee. Places are allocated in order of receipt of payment. Prices are subject to revision.
Please read our full Terms and Conditions and our Pricing Policy below.
Fees:
Private: £6,750
Public: £4,500
There are two 100% scholarships available for the programme and a number of partial scholarships.
To be eligible you will be asked to detail:
- How the course fits with your background, current role and future career goals
- How sustainability and law fit into this picture and why you believe you should be awarded a scholarship, and
- That you are based in a DAC-Listed country
Priority will be given to those in a policy-related role in a global south nation. Scholarship applications are reviewed for suitability to the programme, and if the application is accepted, notification will be sent by email.
Please note that scholarships cover all teaching costs, en-suite accommodation at an Oxford college for five nights, breakfast, lunch and several dinners. It does not include the cost of travel to and from Oxford, visas, insurance or any personal expenses.
Course fees are based on whether the course participant works in the private or public/tertiary sector:
£6,750 private sector
£4,500 public/tertiary sector
There are two fully funded scholarships available, which are funded by the Smith School of Enterprise and the Environment . Those making applications for a scholarship are likely expected to be:
Working in policy-related roles in the public or tertiary sector
Based in lower-middle income DAC-listed countries
- By request, group prices may be available if an organisation purchases two or more places to an amount of approximately 5% off the full fee.
- Places on the course are competitive, however in the occurrence that two weeks prior to the course start date places remain available, last-minute reductions to fill the course may be offered (with the exception of places obtained via the waiting list).
- Enrolments on the course are capped at approximately 50 participants per run. Once the maximum number of enrolments has been reached a waiting list will be created.
- Strategic partnership discounts may be available on agreement with the Course Directors.
A discount of up to 10% is available for Oxford alumni and participants who have successfully completed another Smith School Executive Education course. Please contact us in this regard.
Updated June 2024
Directors & Speakers
Jeff Twentyman
Peter Barnet
Jasper Teulings
Apply
Please note that applications for the 2024 course are now closed. Secure your place at the forefront of law and sustainability leadership. Join us at Oxford University for an enriching journey towards a more sustainable future.
*please note that completion of this form does not commit you to payment for the course.
Applicants will be expected to demonstrate their suitability for the programme in terms of:
- The relevance of the programme to their occupation and organisation.
- Their experience and potential, particularly in areas related to programme content.
- Applications will be reviewed and places awarded on an ongoing basis.
- Applications for full scholarships are now closed.
In brief
| Details: | |
| Course Webinar | Watch the Recording |
| Dates | 24 - 28 June 2024 |
| Duration | 5 day residential |
| Location | Oxford |
| Accommodation | En-suites at historic St Peter's College |
| Teaching Venues | HB Allen Centre and The Divinity School |
Fees: | |
| Private | £6,750 |
| Public | £4,500 |
| Further information: | |
| Brochure (for improved view use alternative to Chrome) | Download Programme Brochure |
| Accreditation | CPD accreditation in progress |
| Apply Now | Applications closed for 2024 |
| Register Your Interest | Register for Updates |
| For more information or any questions please contact: |
| executive.education@smithschool.ox.ac.uk |