The global dimensions of environmental concerns were reflected in the activities of Maryland Carey Law environmental law faculty and students during the summer recess in China, Brazil, and Malaysia.
In late May Environmental Law Program Director Robert Percival lectured to Chinese environmental judges at the National Judge’s College in Beijing. The lectures, which received extensive coverage in the Chinese media, were part of a two-day workshop sponsored by China’s Supreme People’s Court and organized by the London-based NGO Client Earth. They focused on comparative analysis of important environmental law decisions by courts in the U.S. and China. China has more than 800 specialized environmental courts, which have been created to strengthen the government’s efforts to control pollution.
In July Professor Percival addressed the Third World Congress of Environmental History held in Florianopolis, Brazil. Hundreds of scholars from around the world, including many historians and geographers, participated in the conference, which was held at the Federal University of Santa Catarina. Professor Percival’s presentation focused on the history of global environmental law, the subject of a book he currently is researching.
In August Maryland faculty and students participated in the 17th Colloquium of the IUCN Academy of Environmental Law in Kuala Lumpur, Maylasia. At the Colloquium 3Ls Emily Schenning and Chukwupee Nzegwu presented arguments before a distinguished panel of judges from around the world as part of the 5th Tony Oposa Intergenerational Moot Court. The moot court, which is held annually in a different country, is named for the Philippine environmental lawyer who brought the first case that established the rights of future generations to be heard before the Philippine Supreme Court. Oposa, who visited Maryland in May and addressed the 2019 environmental law graduates, was present for the argument.
Emily and Chukwupee also presented papers at the Colloquium, with Emily’s focusing on protection of wildlife in Malawi and Chukwupee’s comparing chemical regulation measures in the US, the EU and China. Environmental Program Managing Director Bill Piermattei made presentations on teaching with technology and water recycling in off grid communities in the Middle East. Professor Percival gave a presentation on “Assessing the Sustainable Development Goals Through the Lens of Global Environmental Law.”
The Colloquium, which was sponsored by the Universiti Teknologi Mara was held at the Asian International Arbitration Centre in Kuala Lumpur. The environmental law programs from Maryland and Pace University jointly serve as the Secretariat for the IUCN Academy of Environmental Law. Student participation in the Academy’s colloquia is funded by the Fedder Fund.