In their recent book published by Cambridge University Press in 2023 on Liability for Environmental Harm to the Global Commons, Neil Craik, Tara Davenport and Ruth Mackenzie examine emerging and prospective international legal rules addressing liability for environmental harm to areas beyond national jurisdiction.
By exploring the constituent elements of liability regimes such as the definition and valuation of environmental damage; the allocation of liability; the standard of liability; standing to bring claims; access to remedies; insurance and compensation funds and how these elements have been implemented in existing legal regimes in the deep seabed, the Antarctic and the high seas, the book highlights key challenges for states in devising effecting liability regimes and outlines possible ways forward.
Come join us for a Panel Discussion on the main findings of the book featuring the authors, with comments from renowned climate change and oceans law experts!
About the speakers
Dr Neil Craik, University of Waterloo
Dr Neil Craik is a Professor at the University of Waterloo with appointments to the Balsillie School of International Affairs and the School of Environment, Enterprise and Development, where he teaches and researches in the fields of International and Canadian environmental law. His current research examines the legal structure of global commons regimes, with particular interests in deep seabed mining regulation, climate change and geoengineering law and governance, and environmental impact assessments.
Dr Tara Davenport, National University of Singapore
Dr Tara Davenport is an Assistant Professor at the Faculty of Law, National University of Singapore (NUS) where she teaches Principles of Property Law, Law of the Sea, and International Regulation of Shipping. She is also co-head of the Oceans Law and Policy Team at the Centre for the International Law at NUS, Deputy Director of the Asia-Pacific Centre for Environmental Law (APCEL), member of the Executive Council of the Asian Society of International Law, member of the Editorial Board of the Asian Journal of International Law and Ocean Development and International Law Journal.
Ruth Mackenzie, University of Westminster
Ruth Mackenzie is Reader in International Law at University of Westminster, London, where she teaches and researches international environmental and natural resources law, law of the sea, and international dispute settlement. She has published widely on international environmental law, particularly biodiversity law, and on the law and policy of international courts and tribunals.
Dr Christina Voigt, University of Oslo
Dr Christina Voigt is a Professor of Law at the University of Oslo, Norway, and is a renowned expert in international environmental law. She is passionate about legal issues of climate change, environmental multilateralism, and sustainability. Professor Voigt is Chair of the IUCN World Commission on Environmental Law (WCEL). She is currently the first Co-chair of the Paris Agreement's Compliance and Implementation Committee.
Dr Cymie Payne, Rutgers University
Dr Cymie Payne is an Associate Professor in the Department of Human Ecology at Rutgers University and the School of Law - Camden. She is known for her work on global governance of the environment and natural resources and the consequent evolution of international law, with a focus on climate change, ocean resources and protection of the environment in relation to armed conflict.
Dr Nilufer Oral, National University of Singapore
Dr Nilufer Oral is Director of the Centre for International Law (CIL) at National University of Singapore (NUS), a member of the UN International Law Commission and co-chair of the Study Group on Sea-level rise in relation to international law. She served on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Council 2012 - 2016; was co-chair of the IUCN Specialist Group on Oceans, Coasts and Coral Reefs (2016 - 2018) and Chair of the IUCN Academy of Environmental Law (2014 - 2017).
