Climate-related Professional Development Opportunities

We have compiled a list of climate law or justice-related professional development opportunities, that is updated on a weekly basis (check with your regulatory body on whether they qualify for continued professional development requirements). Check back for updates!

1.  Climate Change, SDGs and the Law

When: October 29 and October 30, 2021

What:

Through the Climate Law and Governance Initiative (CLGI) with hundreds of partners, we are intensely preparing for the UNFCCC COP26 in Glasgow this November 2021. This note offers an opportunity to register for Climate Change, the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the Law, a world-class preparatory academic conference in the University of Cambridge on 29-30 October 2021.

The Paris Agreement charts a new course in the global effort to address climate change. For progressively more ambitious Nationally Determined Contributions to the global response to climate change, countries need specific domestic legal and public policy reforms to reduce emissions and adapt to the effects of climate change on all levels, and to change the direction of financial flows. Non-Party stakeholders are also invited to scale up their efforts. Since COP22, the Marrakesh Partnership has focused these efforts through the UNFCCC Race to Zero campaign. In the lead-up to COP26 in November 2021 in Glasgow, UK, the UNFCCC High Level Climate Champions have focused on scaling up of efforts by financial institutions and the corporates they invest in, among many other actors across society.

This international conference on Climate Change, the SDGs & the Law in the University of Cambridge and online in the week preceding COP26, is co-hosted by partners from the University of Glasgow and the University of Strathclyde, and will feature keynotes and experts plenary with leading practitioners, researchers and academics in law, climate change, economics, politics, land economy, development studies and beyond, also a special Climate Law in Practice career mentorship plenary for practitioners and students. The conference will also see awards distributed for Best Paper, Best Poster, and Best Online Presentation.

Six key themes in this exciting event link global COP26 debates, local climate action, law and public policy innovation:

  1. Advancing Paris Agreement Innovations

  2. Scaling-up Domestic Climate Legal Frameworks for Action

  3. Mainstreaming Climate Action through Governance & Engagement

  4. Scaling up Nature-Based Solutions for Mitigation & Resilience

  5. Incentivizing Climate-Positive Measures to Foster Ambition for Net Zero & Beyond

  6. Regulating New Climate Technologies & Carbon-Negative Development

Details/Registration: If interested, please register now at this link for Climate Change, the SDGs and the Law 2021, or click here for more information.

2.  Osgoode Certificate in ESG, Climate Risk and the Law

When:

  • November 11, 2021 9:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

  • November 18, 2021 9:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

  • November 25, 2021 9:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

  • December 2, 2021 9:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

  • December 9, 2021 9:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

What:

  • Managing environmental, social and governance (ESG) risk, once optional, is now a critical business priority.

  • Global financial markets, scientific data, government policy and public opinion are converging to drive rapid legal, business and cultural changes in the area of ESG-related risk management. At the same time, ESG and climate-related risks are leading to greater legal and regulatory claims, shareholder activism, investor class-actions, and public “naming and shaming” in cases where an organization is not adequately prioritizing ESG and climate issues.

  • In order to effectively navigate and advise on legal and operational ESG and climate-related risks and issues in the context of governance matters, commercial transactions and investments, and to avoid legal liability and reputational risk, you must have a solid grasp of the complex and evolving laws and expectations in this area.

  • Designed by governance, climate-risk and policy experts for board directors and legal and business professionals whose work involves governance, commercial transactions or investments, this unique new OsgoodePD Certificate is the only program of its kind for Canadian organizations, boards and legal advisors to upskill in this important area.

  • Over five engaging days featuring discussion and case studies, you will learn how to evaluate, navigate and disclose common ESG and climate-related risks and opportunities, establish and develop an ESG framework within the corporate culture and decision-making process, and set suitable ESG-related legal risk management and operational goals.

  • Completing this program will enhance your knowledge and refine your repertoire of risk management strategies and techniques for navigating ESG and climate-related issues, potential liability exposure and opportunities and provide you with valuable resources.

Details/Registration: https://osgoodepd.ca/professional-development/certificates/esg-climate-risk-and-the-law-certificate/