Queen Mary Legal Advice Centre takes part in the second Student Law Clinics' Global Day of Action for Climate Justice.
In July 2019 the Queen Mary Legal Advice Centre proudly committed to the Law Clinics Climate Pledge;
“Our Clinic recognises that climate change is one of the most significant social justice issues we face. Its impacts will be felt most by the poorest and most vulnerable. As a student law clinic with a commitment to social justice, we commit to raising awareness of the issue of climate change in our teaching, research and activism; and to finding ways to support law students to contribute to the struggle for climate justice.”
As part of this movement we were delighted to join many other law clinics around the globe and participate in the Second Global Annual Day of Action for Climate Justice. The Queen Mary Legal Advice Centre hosted a panel on Tuesday 17 November 2020 discussing the important issue; “Should Trees have standing? -The pros and cons of giving rights to Nature”.
In recent years, the debates surrounding this topic have gained momentum. The event welcomed Susan Shaw (from Law firm, Living Law), Dr Philip Tamuno (Head of Sustainability at Queen Mary University of London) and Mumta Ito (NGO Nature's Rights). They discussed the relationship between the Rights of Nature and Human Rights, the distinction from Environmental Law, and how society needs to undergo a cultural shift in order to be able to accommodate such rights. The guest speakers also explained how society, economy and environment are tightly interconnected stressing that each element needs equal representation in the national legal systems. The integration of all three elements is therefore crucial for sustainable development.
The event was chaired and hosted by three Queen Mary Legal Advice Centre Students; Tahmim Syeda, Julia Cyrson and Tehlana Durity Wingson. We are grateful to all 74 participants who attended the event and the brilliant expert contributions provided by our guest speakers.