If you would like to have something included in the next announcements, please email gnhrewebsite@gmail.com and include ‘Announcements’ in the email title. We are especially interested in submissions outside of Europe and North America.

Call for Abstracts, Papers, and Submissions:

Humanities and International Relations Graduate Conference (abstracts)
In our rapidly evolving and interconnected world, the study of International Relations has expanded beyond conventional disciplinary boundaries. Leiden University’s MA in International Relations program (MAIR – Humanities), with its emphasis on humanities-oriented and multidisciplinary perspectives, contends that understanding the complexities of world affairs requires the ability to think critically and draw insights from a wide variety of fields of inquiry, theoretical perspectives, empirical sources, and analytic frames. The MAIR Humanities and International Relations Graduate Conference was envisioned to serve as a site where this approach is both showcased and enhanced, opening up broader dialogue with scholars and practitioners who share a commitment to multidisciplinary, humanities-based inquiry. Conference date: June 11, 2025. Abstract deadline: April 11, 2025. See more here.

International Law Weekend 2025 (panel proposals)
ILW 2025 will explore how crises can serve as transformative moments that challenge and reshape the framework of international law. Whether political, environmental, economic, or humanitarian, crises compel local, regional, and global actors to confront the limitations of extant legal systems. By serving as catalysts for innovation, crises also provide opportunities to reevaluate and reconstruct international legal norms. This process highlights the dynamic nature of international law, which must balance its foundational principles with the need for flexibility in response to unprecedented events. ILW 2025 encourages participants to reimagine international law. ILW 2025 will be held in New York City October 23-25, 2025. Panel deadline: April 20, 2025. See more here.

Ljubljana Conference on Climate Change, Business and Human Rights (abstracts)
Over the decades, climate change has negatively affected ordinary rights-holders’ socio-economic livelihoods. Through climate change, business activities have negatively impacted individual enjoyment of civil and political rights. Rights-holders have been struggling to bring successful actions against businesses for climate change’s adverse effects on their enjoyment of human rights. The domestic systems often do not offer direct and practical possibilities for individuals to bring cases to business for business-related human rights abuses resulting from climate change. Only a few domestic systems offer such possibilities at judicial or quasi-judicial levels. Only a little resort is also found in regional systems, making positive reform in domestic systems necessary. However, where can rights-holders enforce accountability for the negative impacts of climate change and business-related human rights abuses? How can they establish corporate accountability for business-related human rights abuses due to climate change? The conference will take place in person in Ljubljana at New University, September 15, 2025. Abstract deadline: June 30, 2025. See more here.

Calls for Input:

Public consultation on Guidelines on the Right to Peaceful Environmental Protest and Civil Disobedience
In February 2024, the Special Rapporteur released a position paper on State repression of environmental protest and civil disobedience: a major threat to human rights and democracy, outlining the Special Rapporteur’s observations of the various forms of repression experienced by members of the public for their involvement in peaceful environmental protest and civil disobedience. The invitation to comment is open to all who wish to provide comments on the draft text. Please provide your comments and/or suggested edits directly in the text. The Special Rapporteur would be grateful to receive any comments by March 31, 2025. See more here. 

Military Activities and Toxics – issued by Special Rapporteur on Toxics and Human Rights
Purpose: To inform the Special Rapporteur’s 2025 thematic report to the United Nations General Assembly. Pursuant to Human Rights Council resolution 54/10, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on toxics and human rights, Marcos Orellana, will present a thematic report, including recommendations, to the UN General Assembly in October 2025. His thematic report will focus, in accordance with his mandate, on military activities and toxics. Deadline: April 1, 2025. See more here.

Opportunities:

The Lancet Countdown on Health and Climate Change, Policy Analyst (London, England)
We are looking for a policy expert with experience in translating academic research into public policy to join the next phase of the Lancet Countdown: Tracking Progress on Health and Climate Change. The appointee will join the Global Secretariat of the Lancet Countdown, an independent, international and multi-disciplinary research collaboration based out of University College London’s Institute for Global Health. The postholder will be responsible for co-developing and implementing the policy engagement and evidence translation strategy of the Global Lancet Countdown, focusing on international processes, and supporting national-level engagement for a select set of countries. Deadline: March 11, 2025. See more here.

Bureau of Environmental Justice, Deputy Attorney General IV (California, USA)
The California Attorney General’s Bureau of Environmental Justice is seeking a qualified attorney with an interest in high impact, cutting edge, and creative legal work that reduces pollution and improves public health in the most vulnerable communities across California. Our team is committed to public service, and we offer a supportive and collegial work environment. The Bureau of Environmental Justice is located within the Environmental Justice and Protection Section. This position is located in the Division of Public Rights, Environmental Justice and Protection Section, Bureau of Environmental Justice and may be filled in either Sacramento, Oakland, Los Angeles, or San Diego. Deadline: March 17, 2025. See more here.

University of Copenhagen, Assistant Professor or Associate Professor of Environmental Policy and Governance (Copenhagen, Denmark)
The research agenda includes, but is not restricted to, environmental policy processes, policy reform, policy making for green transition, integration of environmental policy in sectoral policies and environmental policy mixes. The tenure-track assistant professor is expected to teach and convene courses related to the newly launched and prestigious Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters programme in European Environmental Economics and Policy (M3EP), which is led by University of Copenhagen and delivered in collaboration with partners from the 4EU+ European University Alliance (Heidelberg University, University of Milan, Charles University and University of Warsaw). Deadline: April 9, 2025. See more here.

Events:

UWC, Global Environmental Law Centre: The Climate Crisis before the Bench: Unpacking the ICJ’s Advisory Opinion Proceedings and the Future of State Responsibility for Climate Change (online)
The ICJ proceedings have been marked by powerful collaboration and strategic coordination amongst Global South countries, and extraordinary climate justice-grounded alignment. The speaker, Joie Chowdhury (she/her) is a Senior Attorney (Climate Litigation and Accountability) at the Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL). She will unpack the key legal issues at the heart of the ICJ climate advisory proceedings, with a focus on human rights and climate reparations, and highlight, in particular, arguments advanced by African States. She will also explore the unique aspects of these proceedings, the potential for a transformative opinion, and consider how this opinion might align with recent and forthcoming climate advisory opinions from the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea and the Inter-American Court of Human Rights. Date: March 6, 2025 at 16:00 SAST. Register here.

Legal Pathways to Net Zero and Nature-Positive Outcomes: Comparative Insights, Tools, and Strategies (online)
As the urgency of achieving net zero emissions and nature-positive outcomes intensifies, legal frameworks play a crucial role in shaping environmental governance, corporate responsibility, and accountability. This event will bring together leading experts to explore the legal mechanisms, comparative insights, and strategic tools that can drive meaningful climate and biodiversity action. The webinar will feature a keynote address by The Hon. Justice Brian Preston, Chief Judge of the Land and Environment Court of New South Wales, followed by several speakers. Date: March 26, 2025 at 6:00PM GMT. Register here.

The Wave Climate Litigation Film Screening (in-person, London, England)
This in-person event will take place at UCL East – One Pool Street. Come and watch powerful films that shed light on the legal battles being fought to protect our planet, and join us for drinks and food. The Wave is a newsletter about climate litigation and climate justice. It covers lawsuits that seek to further climate action or delay it around the world, profiles the people who bring them, analyses litigation trends, and examines their impacts and limitations. Tickets are free, but limited. Date: May 8, 2025 at 6:00 PM BST. Register here.

New Publications/Releases:

Blog: Saving the Green Deal: A Climate Justice and Human Rights Imperative, Margaretha Wewerinke-Singh, Annalisa Savaresi, and Corina Heri; GNHRE. Read here.

Blog: Through the Court’s Door, But Not Much Further: Finnish Climate Case II Explained, Kati Kulovesi, Martin Björklund, Otto Bruun, Laura Kolehmainen, Vilja Johansson, Maiju Mähönen, Milka Sormunen; GreenDeal-Net. Read here.

Book: Brazilian Environmental and Climate Change Law, Rafael Martins Costa Moreira and Gabriel de Jesus Tedesco Wedy; Springer. Access here.

Book: Major Cases in Climate Law – A Critical Introduction, Thomas L. Muinzer; Bloomsbury. Access here.

News: Groups File First Environmental Lawsuit Vs. New Trump Administration, Challenging Illegal Order to Undo Ocean Protections from Offshore Drilling, Oceana. Read here.

Podcast: Perspectives on Sustainable Development – Climate Change: Impact Trends, Social Tipping Points, and Climate Anxiety with Professor Sheila Foster (Columbia University) and Brian Barnes (Managing Director, South of 2 Degrees). Listen here.