CEENRG Thursday seminars: 'Advancing environmental protection through the duty of due diligence: Legal stability vs innovation'

Speaker: Dr Penelope Ridings (Member, International Law Commission, United Nations)

A joint CEENRG – Conservation Research Institute seminar.

The Cambridge Centre for Environment, Energy, and Natural Resource Governance (C-EENRG) is hosting a seminar series throughout the 2025- 26 academic year.

The ICJ Advisory Opinion on the Obligations of States in respect of Climate Change affirmed that the duty to prevent significant harm to the environment applies to climate change and that compliance with this duty requires States to act with due diligence. The Court based its reasoning on earlier judicial decisions, thereby reinforcing continuity and stability in the international legal system. It also addressed the interpretation of the Paris Agreement in light of due diligence, thereby contributing both to the Agreement’s interpretation and potentially to the development of international law more broadly. This lecture will consider the articulation by the Court of the duty of due diligence as well as the question of whether due diligence provides an avenue for enhanced environmental protection beyond the climate change context.

Seminars take place as hybrid meetings (in person seminars in the DAB - David Attenborough Building + online in Zoom) every Thursday (please check precise time as may vary) during the term. Please register online to receive the Zoom link on the day of the seminar. Everyone is welcome!