The Oxford Sustainable Law Programme, based at the University of Oxford, is a joint initiative of the Smith School of Enterprise and the Environment and the Faculty of Law. We draw on wide-ranging expertise from across the University of Oxford and collaborate intensively with our international partners in the academic, public, private, and not-for-profit sectors.
Launched in 2021, the Programme is a world-leading centre operating at the intersection of law and sustainability. Our work is multidisciplinary, rigorous, and informed by practice. We are impact-oriented thinkers who see the law as a tool to catalyse the sustainability transition.
Course: Navigating Legal Risks and Opportunities of Climate Change
24 - 26 September 2025 | In-person | Oxford, UK
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. The course will explore key legal and regulatory developments in the context of climate change and relevant scientific, political, and economic developments, and the practical implications of these for firms and the financial system as a whole.
Our work
Our focus is on actionable research, impactful education, and multi-sectoral engagement that translates insight into practical application. Learn more about what we do.
Latest news
German Court Tosses Farmer's Case But Climate Groups Cheer 'Remarkable Precedent'
A Peruvian farmer’s case against German multinational energy company RWE has been dismissed in court. Despite the setback, Dr Thom Wetzer stated in Common Dreams that the case had set "a remarkable precedent" that could enable future litigations.
One lawsuit just helped melt the fossil fuel industry’s defence against being held accountable for climate change
Ben Franta explains how a new court case has confirmed the principle that private companies can be held liable for climate damage.
EU Plan to Water Down ESG Rules Risks Wave of Litigation, Legal Scholars Warn
The EU has announced plans to simplify the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive, a move Dr Thom Wetzer described as "really risky" and a "a retrograde step."
The upshot is that “litigation risk on emission reduction is significant in the EU,” added Wetzer. “And that sets the European Union apart from many other parts of the world.”
Events
Navigating legal risks and opportunities of climate change
Join course co-directors, Professor Thom Wetzer and Dr Rupert Stuart-Smith, who will provide an introduction to the course and an overview of what to expect when joining us at the University of Oxford in September 2025
Climate futures | Seminar series
This ground-breaking seminar series will flip the script on climate discourse, imagining a future where we overcome climate challenges and try to answer “what happens next” with current research and creative thinking.
Navigating Climate related Legal Risks & Opportunities
Join us for a webinar on cutting-edge developments in climate-related legal risks and opportunities.