Login
Climate change protests inspire world-first law degree
The hundreds of thousands of law students who protested to demand action on climate change over the last few years have inspired one Queensland university to design a degree they can use to “fix the system from the inside”.
Naomi Neilson
Bond University’s faculty of law will launch the world’s first climate law degree for undergraduate students who are “passionate about doing something to heal the planet”. Not only will it attract young people already dedicated to changing the world, it may also appeal to high schoolers who are on the fence about a law degree.
To continue reading the rest of this article, please log in.
Create free account to get unlimited news articles and more!
Executive dean of the faculty Professor Nick James said a law degree supplemented by training in climate science and climate sociology will provide these students with the qualifications and the expertise they need to take effective action.
“My sense is that concern among high school students and young people hasn’t gone away and that they are energised and keen to learn more about the issue and how to do something about it,” Professor James said.
“The problem at the moment isn’t the lack of science. We don’t need more climate scientists. We need people who understand the problem and how to work with our legal and political systems so that we can respond appropriately to climate change.”
Students enrolling in the LLB at Bond have the option of completing a specialisation, a major or a double major in climate law. The program has been developed over 18 months in consultation with the legal profession and academia to create a course that would allow students to focus on negotiating climate disputes, climate law and human rights, and law reform and critical consciousness.
“There is presently no other undergraduate law degree that specialises in climate law anywhere in the world,” Professor James said.
“This is going to give students committed to helping our community adapt and respond to climate change the tools they need to lead legal, social and political reform. At the same time, also earn the qualification needed to become a lawyer.”
Professor James said he expected two types of students would be drawn to the program. The first is a student already thinking about studying law and is attracted to the idea of becoming a specialist in this “emerging area of practice”.
“The other type of student who is going to be attracted to this new program is the person who has never considered studying law before. All they know is that they want to do something about climate change. We believe a law degree will empower them to go out and make a difference,” he said.
