Enhancement of Climate Education for Legal Professionals Highlighted in IBA Report
Article Title: The Global Legal Community's Battle Against Climate Change: Successes, Setbacks, and Future Priorities
Published at 09 May 2025
An IBA-led roundtable discussion, with representatives from over 30 jurisdictions, shed light on the triumphs, tribulations, and future goals of global climate-focused legal initiatives. The insights from this February gathering were recently published in the Roundtable on Bar Association and Law Society Climate Initiatives report.
This report emphasizes the crucial role the legal sector plays in upholding our planet from further destruction, in line with the Paris Agreement objectives. Despite numerous successes in incorporating climate considerations into legal work, there have been setbacks. Enhanced climate-related legal education is a top priority for the future.
IBA's Bar Issues Commission chair Steven Richman stated, "The attendees from various jurisdictions underscored their commitment to address legal matters related to climate change, both internally and through influencing the legal community and governments."
SOARING INITIATIVES
Following the IBA Climate Crisis Statement of 2020, legal organizations have formed dedicated committees to tackle climate issues. The report showcases positive initiatives by these teams, including:
- Training lawyers and judges to handle climate matters effectively.
- Engaging in policy advocacy and consultations on environmental regulations.
- Measuring and minimizing the carbon footprint of business operations.
- Supporting law firms in adopting sustainable practices and offering climate-impact-conscious legal advice.
The report underscores the significance of emphasizing the opportunities presented by integrating climate considerations into legal practice, rather than simply focusing on risks.
ROUGH WATERS
Implementing climate-centric initiatives hasn't been a smooth ride, with several hurdles hindering their effectiveness and acceptance. For instance:
- Engaging senior legal professionals in these ventures, especially those lacking expertise or interest in climate-related matters.
- Gaining broader member support, thanks to ideological and ethical resistance to climate initiatives.
- Keeping up with the rapidly changing environmental and climate regulations, making it challenging to keep informative materials current and stay informed about evolving guidance.
The roundtable participants called for increased support from the IBA and stronger international collaboration on future climate-related work. The primary needs identified were improved resources, courses, and training for lawyers on climate change and understanding how climate affects everyday legal practice and competency obligations.
Dominique Hogan-Doran SC, Chair of the IBA Bar Issues Commission Regulation Committee, pointed out that integrating climate considerations into legal practice can offer benefits like enhancing business resilience and assisting in-house counsel in preparing for future risks and opportunities.
She further stated, "Bar associations and law societies [can] provide the essential tools needed to embed climate change risks and opportunities into legal practice, thereby ensuring it remains relevant and effective in the challenging years ahead."
- The Roundtable on Bar Association and Law Society Climate Initiatives report, published from the IBA-led discussion, underscores the importance of legal sector's role in preserving the environment, aligning with the objectives of the Paris Agreement.
- Various legal organizations have launched dedicated committees to combat climate issues, as per the IBA Climate Crisis Statement of 2020, showcasing multiple positive initiatives such as climate-focused training for lawyers and judges, policy advocacy, reduced carbon footprint of operations, and supporting law firms with climate-conscious advice.
- Despite numerous successes, climate-centric initiatives encounter challenges like engaging senior legal professionals lacking climate expertise, gaining broad member support due to ideological and ethical resistances, and keeping pace with the evolving climate and environmental regulations.
- The IBA's Bar Issues Commission Regulation Committee Chair, Dominique Hogan-Doran SC, emphasizes that integrating climate considerations into legal practice could bolster business resilience, helping in-house counsel prepare for potential future risks and opportunities.
- The report suggests increased support from the IBA, international collaboration, and improved resources, courses, and training for lawyers on climate change, as well as understanding how climate affects everyday legal practice and competency obligations, are crucial for the success and acceptance of future climate-related initiatives.