This Symposium, entitled Towards a Legal System in Harmony and Peace with Nature, will be held on December 18 and 19 in a hybrid manner: in person, in the UC3M’s Puerta de Toledo Campus (Salón de Grados, Ronda de Toledo, 1, Madrid), and via webinar. The Symposium is jointly organized by ICEL (International Council on Environmental Law), UC3M, and UVigo (University of Vigo), with prestigious Partners: the Global Judicial Institute on the Environment (GJIE); the IUCN World Commission on Environmental Law (WCEL); the UNEP’s Legal Division; and the World Jurists Association (WJA).

The event revolves around two major themes: on the one hand, the transformative capacity of Law, and, on the other hand, the role of jurisdictional and quasi-jurisdictional mechanisms for the protection of nature. In turn, diverse key elements and recent developments will be addressed by experts through varied panels, among others: advances in the Environmental Rule of Law and certain specific hot issues (e.g. rights of nature, ecocide, etc.); legal challenges and potential solutions concerning environmental refugees; progress on climate justice; or liability of companies in environmental matters. In addition, there will be a musical piece, Tempest of Climate, composed for the occasion and performed by Maestro Chiya Amos (ICEL representative for Music & Culture for the Environment). Last, but not least, the event will be closed with an Award Ceremony to honor Prof. Luciano Parejo, emeritus professor at UC3M. ICEL has formally recognized him as a Key Person for his Contribution to Environmental Law, and consequently awards its Prize and pays Tribute to him (December 19, from 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. CET).

This event convenes academics, legal practitioners and civil society leaders in the framework of the PaxNatura Research Project, funded by the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation (Ref.: PID2022-1424842022), and it has been funded as well by the UC3M’s School of Law and Social Sciences & Vice-Rectorate for Research and Transfer.

This event convenes academics, legal practitioners and civil society leaders in the framework of the PaxNatura Research Project, funded by the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation (Ref.: PID2022-1424842022), and it has been funded as well by the UC3M’s School of Law and Social Sciences & Vice-Rectorate for Research and Transfer.

Only those who wish to attend in person (just one or both days) must register through the link included in the program. Those who wish to attend online (and eventually participate via chat) can follow the links also included in the program, without previous registration, since the event will be streamed live on the UC3M YouTube channel.

Following, you may download the Program of the event and find out all the speakers and details of the event.

Finally, to attend only we provide you the access to the stream for each session in the following buttons;

UPDATE: The symposium took place successfully as scheduled. Following you may see the videos of the full session and an image gallery of the speakers and participants.

FIRST DAY – 18th DECEMBER 2023

Opening Session: Welcoming Remarks

Panel I: Strengthening Environmental Rule of Law

Panel II: Better Environmental Frameworks and
Conceptual Innovations in Ecological Law

Musical Piece

Panel IV: Addressing Environmental Refugees’ Needs:
Main Legal Challenges and Opportunities Ahead

Views from Senior ICEL Leaders & Associates
on the Transformative Capacity of Law

SECOND DAY – 19th DECEMBER 2023

Panel I: Shaping Responses to Climate Change

Panel II: Fighting for Climate Justice at International Level

Panel III: Corporate Responsibility and Environmental Justice Developments

Views from Senior ICEL Leaders on the Role of Jurisdictional and
Quasi Jurisdictional Mechanisms in Protecting Nature

Rapporteurship of the Symposium’s Major Themes

Homage to Prof. Luciano Parejo

Closing Remarks