In the context of COP17 negotiations in Durban 2011, IDLO together with Warburton Attorneys (Johannesburg) will launch the first ever annual conference specifically focused on the legal and institutional aspects of climate change mitigation, adaptation and finance in the Global South.

The Conference on Climate Law and Governance in the Global South, co-sponsored by CDKN, will bring together country representatives, development practitioners, legal experts and other key stakeholders to discuss the most pressing issues facing developing country governments and citizens.

The Conference on Climate Law and Governance in the Global South seeks to:

• Catalyze legal thought on climate change and its implications for the development of laws and institutions for developing countries
• Promote an integrated approach to climate change law at international, regional, national, subnational and sectoral levels
• Facilitate collaboration between legal experts, policy-makers and stakeholders with a view to advancing climate policy
• Explore context specific governance challenges related to climate change priorities and capabilities
  Promote knowledge-sharing of best practices to empower policy-makers to improve legal and institutional frameworks for climate change policy

Conference Features include:

Distinguished Keynote Speakers for the Conference and Reception:

Her Excellency Ms. Mary Robinson, Former President of Ireland

Mr. Sam Bickersteth, CEO of CDKN

Mr. Kumi Naidoo, Executive Director of Greenpeace

Dr. Pavan Sukhdev, Study Leader, The Economics of Ecosystems and Biodiversity (TEEB) Project

Mr. Ricardo Meléndez-Ortiz, Chief Executive Officer & co-Founder, International Centre for Trade & Sustainable Development

Prof. Marie-Claire Cordonier Segger, Manager, Environment & Sustainable Development Law Division, IDLO, & Senior Director, CISDL

Mr. Richard Lord Q.C., Brick Street Chambers, London, United Kingdom

International Expert Panelists:

Mr. Alex Simalabwi, Climate Change Focal Point, Global Water Partnership

Dr. Charlotte Streck, Director, ClimateFocus

Prof. Louis Kotze, Environmental Law Department, North-West University, South Africa

Prof. Michael Kidd, Environmental Law Department, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermartizburg

Dr. Neville Trotz, Caribbean Community Climate Change Centre

Mr. Carlos Fuller, Deputy Director, Caribbean Community Climate Change Center

Dr. Marie Parramon, IMBEWU Sustainability Legal Specialists (Pty) Ltd/Extraordinary Lecturer: North-West University, South Africa

Prof. Loretta Feris, Institute of Marine and Environmental Law, University of Cape Town, South Africa

Prof. Anel Du Plessis, Environmental Law Department, North-West University, South Africa

Ms. Cecilia Ntombela, Senior Legal Advisor, Gold Fields

Ms. Belynda Petrie, One World Sustainable Investments, Cape Town, South Africa

Ms. Sarah Mason-Case, Program Specialist, IDLO & Associate Fellow, CISDL

Mr Sebastien Jodoin, Lead Counsel, CISDL

Mr. Thierno Bal Seck *, Manager of Rural Development and Desertification, Enda Énergie, Environnement, Développement

Mr. Dang Dinh Bach *, Vice-Director, Law and Policy of Sustainable Development Research Center

Ms. Yinka Agidee, Legal Practitioner, The Rock and Partners, Lagos, Nigeria

Prof. Willemien du Plessis, Environmental Law Department, North- West University, South Africa

Prof. E Couzens, Environmental Law Department, University of Kwa-Zulu Natal, South Africa

Prof. Markus Gehring, University of Ottawa, Cambridge University, & Lead Counsel, CISDL

Expert Panels chaired by:

North-West University, CDKN, Caribbean Community Climate Change Centre, CISDL, IDLO, Warburton’s Attorneys, World Resources Institute,  FAO, IFAD, Maquarie University,  Stefan Wyszynski University.

A draft agenda is available here

To register for this event, please click here

For more information, please contact:

Marie-Claire Cordonier Segger
Environment & Sustainable Development Programs
International Development Law Organization
Viale Vaticano, 106
00165 Rome, Italy
Tel: +39 06 4040 3200
Fax: +39 06 4040 3232
Email: mcordonier@idlo.int