Enhance climate knowledge in legal professionals, as suggested by the IBA report.
Published on May 9, 2025
The Lowdown on the IBA's Climate Chat
The International Bar Association (IBA) has dropped a bomb! Today, they published a report that lays it all out: the ups, the downs, and the gotta-dos when it comes to the global legal landscape and climate change.
The report, titled "Climate Whammy: What Bars & Law Societies Need to Know and Do," stems from a February roundtable that gathered over 70 bigwigs from almost 50 law orgs — a brainstorming session dedicated to discussing climate action strategies within the legal community.
This report is a game-changer as it underlines the fact that, in alignment with the Paris Agreement, it's high time for the legal sector to step up and safeguard our planet from further ruin. And guess what? The legal pros are gutsy enough to rise to the challenge!
Maximizing Mojo
So, what did those forward-thinking dudes discuss? Well, they found that many legal organizations have followed the IBA Climate Crisis Statement (2020) and established dedicated climate change committees. These teams have kicked off some fantastic initiatives:
- Equipping lawyers with the know-how to tackle climate matters in the courtroom
- Collaborating on environmental and climate change-focused legal frameworks
- Evaluating and minimizing their carbon footprint
- Assisting law firms in implementing sustainable practices and providing climate-conscious counsel
Nitty-Gritty Challenges
While progress is palpable, it's not all smooth-sailing. Several obstacles have cropped up:
- Struggles engaging senior legal eagles in climate-focused ventures
- Gathering broad community support in the face of ideological resistance
- Due to fast-paced changes in environmental regulations, staying updated on new developments can feel like a never-ending battle
Roundtable Takeaways
The roundtable shed light on a few key areas of focus:
- Amplifying the benefits of integrating climate considerations in legal work (not just the risks)
- Enhancing international cooperation in future climate-related tasks
- Elevating the level of climate education for lawyers and judges
- Providing training on the intersections between climate change and everyday legal practice
The Final Word
Steven Richman, Chair of the IBA Bar Issues Commission, summed it up perfectly: "We have the know-how and tools to future-proof our practice. Climate considerations are essential in building resilience and equipping clients for the challenges ahead." All hail the climate cavalry! Let's do this, team!
- To further enforce the importance of climate action within the legal sector, environmental science education is crucial for lawyers and judges, as highlighted during the IBA's roundtable discussion on climate change.
- In the ongoing battle against climate change, online education platforms can be valuable resources for legal professionals seeking updates on climate regulations and intersections with everyday legal practice.
- As environmental matters increasingly become a focus in courtrooms, it's essential for lawyers to expand their knowledge in the field of climate-change to effectively advocate for their clients, a strategy that was discussed among the influential legal minds gathered in the IBA's Climate Chat roundtable.
