Navigating Legal Risks and Opportunities of Climate Change
In brief
| Course Webinar | View recording |
| Dates | 24 - 26 September 2025 |
| Duration | 3 day residential |
| Location | Oxford |
| Accommodation | Rhodes House or St Peter's College, Oxford |
| Teaching Venue | Rhodes House |
Fees: | |
| 5% Early Bird Discount | Until 1 May 2025 |
| Private | £7,050 |
| Public | £4,050 £2,550 (Global South) |
| Further information: | |
| Brochure (for improved view use alternative to Chrome) | 2025 Brochure |
| Accreditation | Credly Badge and Certificate |
| Apply Now | Application Form |
| Register Your Interest for 2025 | 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 and contested 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. Without an understanding of how law and regulation is evolving, including the science underpinning these changes and the geopolitical developments shaping them, business leaders, litigators, and government officials are flying blind in the face of shifting financial risks. Understanding the intersection of law and climate change has therefore become paramount for senior leaders and their advisors. The University of Oxford is proud to introduce the second iteration of its executive education course designed around these challenges.
Register your interest in the programme, or watch the webinar where the co-directors offer insights on the programme.
Why climate change and the law matters
Legal action in the context of climate change – including climate litigation, new regulations, and emerging policy trends – holds the potential to change 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, legal, 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, whether we have fairly distributed the burdens climate change imposes, and whether the right balance is struck between enabling legal evolution and providing legal certainty. Against emerging geopolitical tension, navigating these questions has heightened salience.
The Course
This 3-day course explores legal risks and opportunities that are emerging as the law changes in the context of climate change.
Delivered by eminent Oxford faculty and practitioners, the course is grounded in our world-leading research. Oxford’s Navigating Legal Risks and Opportunities of Climate Change Executive Education Programme will examine and discuss key legal and regulatory developments in the context of climate change in the context of relevant scientific, political, and economic developments, and the practical implications of these developments for firms and the financial system as a whole.
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.
- Understanding international legal frameworks relating to climate change
- Latest advances in scientific understanding of climate change impacts
- A review of climate litigation trends and future directions
- 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
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 a candlelit college dinner, punting on the River Cherwell, and a historical city tour
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 Oxford's 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.
Testimonials
The first iteration of the course ran successfully in summer 2024, receiving an average satisfaction score of 4.75/5 from participants:
Wangui Kaniaru, Partner, Anjarwalla & Khanna LLP, said:
The programme brought together experts in law, economics, policy and science from all over the world. in a unique way. Climate change regulation is a cross-cutting area that requires all these inputs and most programs do not offer the level of expertise and cross-linkage in a short course that this program offered.
Jessica Monteiro, Associate Director, UBS, Brazil, said:
You can dive into the City of Oxford and network with great professionals who are working on climate related issues
Jeff Twentyman, Director of Green Finance Institute and former Chair of Sustainability at Slaughter & May, UK, said:
A broad exposé of climate and law... (the course) is a really good way of acquiring or refreshing your familiarity with the context of law and climate in a way you couldn’t do by reading a few articles yourself
Hannah Dennehey, Head of Client Relations - DRHC I Mediator Head of Client Relations - DRHC I Mediator, Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM) UAE, said:
The whole immersive experience was excellent. From the initial communication, right through to delivery, every aspect was exceptional. I am so utterly grateful to everyone involved, thank you.
Punam Mehta, Group General Counsel, Longevity Partners, UK , said:
I particularly enjoyed the different angles that the course focuses on: the economic, social and climate science aspects
The Oxford experience
The course will be held at Rhodes House, an Oxford landmark, a historic Grade II listed country house in the heart of the city, surrounded by beautiful gardens. Today, it is home to the city’s newest and most technologically advanced conference and convening centre with multiple meeting spaces, a large dining hall and beautiful en-suite bedrooms, creating a unique place to bring people together all year round. The perfect place for this event. Some participants will also be accommodated at St Peter’s College, one of the 43 colleges that make up the collegiate university. Located at the centre of historic Oxford, St Peter’s was founded in 1929 with a mission to make the best Oxford education available to students of the greatest potential, irrespective of means or background.
During the course you will be immersed in the Oxford experience, with stylish formal dinner and drinks receptions and the opportunity to see Oxford at its best with informal activities such as a historic walking tour and the age-old Oxford tradition of punting on the River Cherwell.
Executive Education at the Oxford Smith School
Teaching is at the heart of the Oxford Smith School. We are experienced in providing executive sustainability impact to FTSE100 companies, global professional service firms and some of the world’s largest financial institutions. We work carefully with clients on interventions tailored to differing knowledge levels and audiences.
Curriculum
- The legally disruptive nature of climate change with Thom Wetzer – 9:00-10:00am
- The international legal framework for climate action with Lavanya Rajamani 10:15am-12:15pm
- Introducing the science of climate change with Rupert Stuart-Smith 1:15-2:45pm
- Climate politics in three dimensions: width, depth, length with Thomas Hale 3:00-4:15pm
- Understanding the impacts of climate change: the economic perspective with Sugandha Srivastav 4:30-5:30pm
- Dinner at The Perch
- The scientific context for climate change mitigation with Rupert Stuart-Smith 9:00am-10:15am
- Corporate decarbonisation: from voluntary action to obligations with Thom Wetzer 10:45am-12:00pm
- Decarbonisation scenarios and target setting with Thom Wetzer and Rupert Stuart-Smith 1:15pm-2:15pm
- How technological development is driving the energy transition with Cameron Hepburn 2:30pm-3.15pm
- Driving decarbonisation through legal action: case studies with April Williamson & Peter Barnett 3:30-5:30pm
- Joint dinner / early evening activities
- The science of climate change impacts with Rupert Stuart-Smith 9:00-10:30am
- Climate damages litigation with Ben Franta 11:00am-12:30pm
- Scenario dependence of climate-related financial risk with Thom Wetzer 2:00-3:00pm
- Quantifying climate-related legal risk with Rupert Stuart-Smith & Thom Wetzer 3:00-3:30pm
- Legal risk workshop with Thom Wetzer & Rupert Stuart-Smith 4:00-5:30pm
- Wrap-up discussion with Thom Wetzer & Rupert Stuart-Smith 5:30-6:00pm
- Final Formal dinner at Rhodes House
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 Rhodes House, or historic St Peter's College for four 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: £7,050
Public/Tertiary: £4,050
Global South & Public/Tertiary: £2,550
A limited number of full and partial scholarships are available for the programme.
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 three 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:
£7.050 private sector
£4,050 public/tertiary sector
£2,550 Global South
a 5% early bird discount is applicable before 1 May 2025.
A limited number of full and partial scholarships are available. 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 January 2025
Directors & Speakers
Peter Barnett
April Williamson
Apply
Applications for the 2025 programme are now open.
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 the application form does not commit you to payment for the course.
For more information, please email executive.education@smithschool.ox.ac.uk
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.
In brief
| Course Webinar | View recording |
| Dates | 24 - 26 September 2025 |
| Duration | 3 day residential |
| Location | Oxford |
| Accommodation | Rhodes House or St Peter's College, Oxford |
| Teaching Venue | Rhodes House |
Fees: | |
| 5% Early Bird Discount | Until 1 May 2025 |
| Private | £7,050 |
| Public | £4,050 £2,550 (Global South) |
| Further information: | |
| Brochure (for improved view use alternative to Chrome) | 2025 Brochure |
| Accreditation | Credly Badge and Certificate |
| Apply Now | Application Form |
| Register Your Interest for 2025 | Register for Updates |
| For more information or any questions please contact: |
| executive.education@smithschool.ox.ac.uk |